Messi Breaks World Cup Scoring Record as Argentina Advance to Knockout Stage

Lionel Messi cemented his legacy as the greatest goalscorer in men’s World Cup history on Monday, scoring a brace to lead Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Austria and secure early qualification for the knockout stage. The 38-year-old captain’s two goals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, took his tournament tally to 18, surpassing the long-standing record of 16 held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.

A Night of High Drama in Texas

The match, played before 70,649 fans at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, began with an unexpected twist. Just nine minutes in, Messi stepped up to take a penalty after Lautaro Martinez was fouled in the box, but his spot-kick drifted wide of the right post. According to FIFA.com, the miss extended an unusual record for the Argentine — he has now missed three of seven World Cup penalties (excluding shootouts), the most in tournament history.

Despite the early setback, Messi remained undeterred. Austria’s defense, marshaled by captain David Alaba, held firm through several dangerous moments, with Alaba making crucial blocks in the 19th and 32nd minutes. But in the 38th minute, the deadlock was broken. Facundo Medina delivered a low cross from the left, Thiago Almada let the ball run through his legs, and Messi arrived at the far post to side-foot a first-time finish into the bottom corner.

History Made

The goal was Messi’s 17th in World Cup competition, breaking the record he had shared with Klose since his hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening match. It also made him just the third player in World Cup history — joining France’s Just Fontaine (1958) and Brazil’s Jairzinho (1970) — to score in six consecutive World Cup matches.

“To be honest, I’m really happy about the win, especially as it’s such a crucial victory, hard-fought and well-earned,” Messi said after the match, as reported by FIFA.com. “This is the World Cup; it was a very evenly matched, very intense match, and we’re happy to have picked up six points and to have already qualified.”

Messi, who turned 39 on Wednesday, added a second goal deep into stoppage time (90+5), slotting home a rebound after his initial shot was blocked during a swift Argentina counter-attack. The brace gave him five goals in two matches, putting him atop the Golden Boot race.

Austria’s Challenge

Austria, making their first World Cup appearance since 1998, had entered the match with confidence after a 3-1 victory over Jordan in their opener. However, they struggled to create meaningful chances against Argentina’s organized defense. As The Guardian noted, Ralf Rangnick’s side lacked creative attacking options and failed to register a shot on target in the first half.

“We wanted to be tough and play our game. In the end, we lacked clear chances,” Austria forward Michael Gregoritsch admitted to FIFA.com. “Now we need to recover and win against Algeria.”

Austria remains on three points and will face Algeria on June 27 in a decisive group-stage finale, needing a win to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive.

What’s Next for Argentina

With six points from two matches, Argentina has already secured its place in the Round of 32 as the defending champions continue their title defense. The team will face Jordan in their final group match on June 27, though with qualification already secured, head coach Lionel Scaloni may rotate his squad.

Argentina’s heavy reliance on Messi — all five of their tournament goals have been scored by him — raises questions about their depth against stronger opposition in the knockout rounds. However, as ESPN observed, the defending champions have momentum and a talisman in historic form.

A Legacy Cemented

Messi’s achievement at age 38-39 is unprecedented in modern football. His World Cup journey spans six tournaments: 2006 (1 goal), 2014 (4 goals, runner-up), 2022 (7 goals, champion), and now 2026 (5 goals and counting). The record he now holds may stand for years, though France’s Kylian Mbappé — already with 12 goals across two tournaments — remains in pursuit.

Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez captured the sentiment of a nation: “He is a class above. I don’t have the words. It is a great feeling that he is Argentinian. We have to cherish him.”

The moment was made even more poignant by reports that Messi was tearful after his first goal, with France24 noting that his father is recovering from an unspecified health issue. The match also fell on the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona’s famous “Hand of God” goal against England in the 1986 World Cup — a fitting backdrop for another chapter in Argentine footballing immortality.