Lionel Messi became the highest goal scorer in World Cup history Monday, moving up to 18 with a superb double in Argentina's Group J match against Austria and breaking a tie with Germany legend Miroslav Klose.
Messi entered the day on 16 goals following a hat trick in Argentina's opener, and missed a penalty early on against Austria which briefly denied him the record. But Messi curled home from a cutback in the 39th minute and then added a late second in the 2-0 win in Dallas.
The Argentina captain has now scored in six consecutive World Cup games since 2022 and his 18th goal also moves him clear of women's World Cup top scorer Marta, who has 17.
Messi had tied Klose's record by scoring a hat trick during Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria to kick off the 2026 World Cup on June 16. The hat trick stands as the 11th of Messi's international career, but first at a World Cup.
"It's an honor being up there for what it means, being alongside Klose and [Brazil's] Ronaldo, who is there also. But it doesn't mean anything," Messi said of the record on June 16. "[Kylian] Mbappé is there, too, he scored twice [on Tuesday]. At the end of the day, they are stats and nothing more."
Messi scored his first World Cup goal on June 16, 2006, at 18 years old, netting a second-half strike against Serbia and Montenegro.
Twenty years later, he continues to break records by leading in goal count and becoming the first player to feature in six different editions of a men's World Cup.
The goals put Messi up to 121 international goals for Argentina, trailing only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 143.
Argentina's triumph on Monday afternoon in Dallas, Texas propelled Messi to lead in most men's World Cup victories as well.
Argentina has now officially qualified for the World Cup's round of 32 after leading group J with six points. La Albiceleste will close the group stage chapter of the competition with the match against Jordan in Dallas, Texas.