Lionel Messi etched his name into football history on Monday by scoring his 17th World Cup goal, making him the all-time top scorer in the planet's most prestigious tournament. The milestone goal came in the 38th minute of Argentina's match against Austria, during the second round of Group J of the 2026 World Cup held in Dallas.
The Journey to Record-Breaking Glory
The path to this record was anything but easy. In the ninth minute, the Argentine captain missed a penalty, sending the ball wide of the Austrian goal. Unfazed, Messi responded with the goal that rewrote the history books: just before halftime, he found the back of the net at the AT&T Stadium, sparking wild celebrations among Argentine fans. With his signature gesture of pointing to the sky in gratitude, he completed a play that the world of football had eagerly awaited for years.
By scoring this goal, Messi surpassed the previous record held by Germany's Miroslav Klose, who amassed 16 goals over four World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014). Klose had set that mark on July 8, 2014, during the semifinal in Brazil, surpassing Brazil's Ronaldo at the time. That record held firm for twelve years until the Argentine star matched and then exceeded it.
Argentina's Performance and Messi's Consistency
Messi's immediate precedent came during Argentina's tournament debut against Algeria on June 17 in Kansas City, where he scored his first World Cup hat-trick in a 3-0 victory, bringing his tally to 16 goals and tying Klose. Just five days later, against Austria, he went beyond the record.
Argentina entered the clash in Dallas with three points and a superior goal difference to their opponent, who also had three points after defeating Jordan 3-1 in the opening round. The match was a battle for the top spot in Group J, and at halftime, Argentina led 1-0 thanks to their captain's historic goal.
Messi's Unmatched World Cup Legacy
This is Messi's sixth consecutive World Cup, having participated in every edition since Germany 2006. In Qatar 2022, he lifted the World Cup trophy with Argentina, adding a third star to the albiceleste jersey. Moreover, he is the only player in history to have scored in every stage of a World Cup tournament: group stage, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.
The global football community reacted instantly. DAZN Spain summed up the moment with a phrase that quickly spread across social media: "Football history. History of humanity," while DAZN Football confirmed that Messi "surpasses Klose and now stands at 17 World Cup goals."
Miroslav Klose's record took twelve years to be broken. With the tournament still ongoing, Messi's record could continue to grow.
FAQs on Messi's World Cup Record
How many World Cup goals has Lionel Messi scored?
Lionel Messi has scored 17 goals in World Cup tournaments, making him the all-time leading scorer.
Who held the previous World Cup goal-scoring record?
The previous record was held by Germany's Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals across four World Cups.
In which World Cup did Messi surpass Klose's record?
Messi surpassed Klose's record during the 2026 World Cup in Dallas.