Lionel Messi became the all-time leading goal scorer in men's FIFA World Cup history during a match on June 22, 2026 [4].
The achievement cements Messi's legacy as the most prolific scorer in the tournament's history, surpassing a long-standing benchmark set by Germany's Miroslav Klose.
Messi reached the milestone in Dallas, Texas, during a Group J match between Argentina and Austria [5]. Argentina secured a 2-0 win over Austria, a result that allows the team to take the lead in their group [3].
Messi scored two goals during the match to reach a total of 18 World Cup goals [1]. This total surpasses the previous men's scoring record of 16 goals held by Miroslav Klose [2].
The record-breaking performance followed a moment of tension earlier in the game when Messi missed a penalty kick [3]. Despite the early miss, his two subsequent goals ensured both a personal milestone and a critical victory for the Argentina national team.
The match was held in the U.S. as part of the 2026 tournament schedule [5]. Argentina's current standing in Group J provides the team with a strategic advantage as they move toward the knockout stages of the competition.
“Lionel Messi became the all-time leading goal scorer in men's FIFA World Cup history”
By surpassing Miroslav Klose's 16-goal mark, Messi has rewritten the historical record for individual scoring in the men's World Cup. This achievement, coupled with Argentina's lead in Group J, reinforces the team's position as a primary contender for the title while establishing a new statistical ceiling for future players in the tournament.
