Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history during a match against Austria on June 22, 2026 [2].
The achievement cements Messi's legacy as the most prolific goalscorer in the tournament's history, surpassing milestones previously set by both men and women.
Messi reached the milestone in the 38th minute of the game [4]. The goal came after the Argentina forward had missed a penalty earlier in the match [4].
Reports on the exact tally vary between sources. USA Today said that Messi scored his 18th World Cup goal [1], while NBC Los Angeles said he reached 17 goals [3].
This performance surpassed the previous men's World Cup record of 16 goals held by Miroslav Klose [5]. Additionally, some reports indicate Messi has now overtaken the women's record of 17 goals previously held by Marta [1].
The record-breaking strike occurred during the group stages of the tournament. Messi's ability to maintain a high scoring rate into the later stages of his career has allowed him to climb the all-time rankings, a feat few players in the history of the sport have approached.
“Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history”
By surpassing both Miroslav Klose and Marta, Messi has established a new benchmark for individual performance in the World Cup. This record underscores his longevity and consistency across multiple tournament cycles, positioning him as the definitive statistical leader of the world's most prestigious football competition.
