Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history on Monday after scoring two goals against Austria.
The achievement cements Messi's legacy as the most prolific goalscorer in the history of the tournament, surpassing a record that had stood for years.
Messi's performance during the match brought his cumulative World Cup goal total to 18 [1]. This tally moves him past former German striker Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 goals [2]. The Argentine forward reached this milestone by scoring a double, ensuring he now sits alone at the top of the historical rankings.
While some reports previously suggested Messi had equalized Klose's record during a match against Algeria, current data confirms he has now exceeded that mark [1]. The gap between the current leader and the previous record is now two goals.
The record-breaking performance comes amid a highly competitive tournament. Other players are also climbing the historical ranks, including Kylian Mbappé. Following a double against Iraq, Mbappé has reached a total of 16 World Cup goals [3]. This puts the French forward two goals behind Messi's new record.
Messi's rise to the top of the scoring charts follows a series of dominant performances for the Argentina national team. The two goals scored on Monday were the decisive factor in establishing his new position as the tournament's most successful scorer [1].
“Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history”
Messi's ascent to the top of the World Cup scoring list represents a shift in the historical hierarchy of football. By surpassing Miroslav Klose, Messi joins an elite group of players who have dominated the sport's most prestigious tournament across multiple editions. The proximity of Kylian Mbappé's goal tally suggests that while Messi currently holds the record, the pursuit of the all-time lead will remain a central narrative of the tournament's closing stages.
