Lionel Messi has become the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer, after his goal against Austria.
The 38-year-old went into Argentina‘s second game of the 2026 World Cup level on 16 goals alongside Miroslav Klose. He had matched the all-time record with a hat-trick against Algeria last time out.
While some thought Messi may have had the chance to break the record this summer, not many would have expected it to tumble after two games.
The record-breaking goal could have come 30 minutes earlier than it actually did, as Messi missed an early penalty. But it took him 38 minutes of the game against Austria to break the record, with a cool finish from the edge of the area. He wasn’t done there, adding an 18th World Cup goal in injury-time.
Lionel Messi’s World Cup goals
World Cup 2006
Messi’s World Cup history got underway on his debut, back in 2006. The Argentinian went into that summer’s tournament off the back of a breakthrough season at Barcelona, and came off the bench against Serbia and Montenegro. It took Messi just 14 minutes to score his World Cup goal, 10 minutes after providing his maiden assist. But those would be his only goal involvements at the 2006 World Cup, as he remained a squad player.
World Cup 2014
Messi had to wait eight years for his second World Cup goal, blanking in five appearances in 2014 despite playing every minute for Argentina en route to their quarter-final exit. It took Messi 65 minutes to score his first goal at the 2014 World Cup, grabbing what would be the winner in the group stage against Bosnia-Herzegovina. There was another winner in the next match, with Messi scoring the only goal against Iran. Messi helped Argentina compete the perfect group stage with a brace against Nigeria. But he did not score in the knockout stages, despite Argentina making it to the final — where they lost to Germany.
World Cup 2018
The 2018 World Cup was another poor one as far as Messi was concerned. He only scored one goal as Argentina were knocked out in the last-16 by eventual winners France — though he did provide two assists in that game. Messi’s only goal of the tournament came in the group stage against Nigeria, opening the scoring in the eventual 2-1 win.
World Cup 2022
This was Messi’s tournament, in more ways than one. Of course, it all culiminated in Messi finally lifting the World Cup, with Argentina ending their drought. But he also scored in six of Argentina’s seven matches en route to the title. He scored more goals in 2022 than he had managed in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 combined.
Messi scored his first of seven goals at the 2022 World Cup in their first game, opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the eventual defeat to Saudi Arabia. He then found the net from open play in the next game against Mexico, before blanking against Poland. A 2-1 win over Australia saw Messi saw his first-ever World Cup knockout stage goal, a sign of what was to come. Messi scored against Netherlands and Croatia to see Argentina into the final. There, of course, Messi scored a brace as Argentina eventually beat France on penalties.
World Cup 2026
This looks set to be Messi’s last World Cup. And he’s going out with a bang. The 38-year-old started the tournament in the best way possible, netting a hat-trick against Algeria. There was a touch of fortune with the performance, as many felt Messi was lucky to not be sent off for a tough challenge.
But he wasn’t, and was subsequently available to face Austria, where he scored a record-breaking 17th World Cup goal. Messi missed an opportunity to make history in the opening minutes from the penalty spot, sending his effort wide after Lautaro Martinez was fouled. But he had the record before half-time, capping off a good team move. Messi took his tally to 18 late on in the game, making it five goals in his opening two matches.
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