By our reporter 22.6.2026
Argentina’s Lionel Messi scored a brace against Austria in Monday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup to become the highest World Cup goal scorer in history.
Messi, 38, prove to be still lethal in front of goal helping Argentina to beat Austria to top group J and qualify for the knockout stage. Messi scored in the 38th minute and in added time had his second goal to set the record of the all-time highest scorer with 18 goals in all World Cups.
In Argentina’s opening game against Algeria, Messi scored a hat-trick to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time mark of 16 World Cup goals.
He made it 17 when he swept home his first of the his two goals in the game much to the delight of Argentina fans at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Messi had missed a penalty earlier in the game.
Messi is playing at his sixth World Cup, his first coming in 2006 and he now has 121 goals in 201 games for his country.
His enduring quality augurs well for Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
After former Germany forward Klose, next on the all-time list is Brazilian great Ronaldo, with 15 goals, one ahead of Gerd Muller and current France star Kylian Mbappe.
Messi...king of world cup goals.