Lionel Messi became the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer after finding the net in Argentina’s group match against Austria.
Just two days before turning 39, Messi moved past Miroslav Klose’s long-standing men’s record of 16 goals, set in 2014, with a first-half strike against Argentina’s Group J rivals in Dallas.
The Argentina captain finished off a slick team move, starting the attack before arriving unmarked in the box to convert Facundo Medina’s low cross into the bottom corner. The goal made it six straight World Cup matches with a goal for Messi.
He had earlier missed a chance to break the record when he sent a ninth-minute penalty wide after Argentina were awarded a spot-kick.
The goal set off celebrations among Argentina fans in Dallas, with chants of Messi’s name ringing around the stadium as Argentina’s No. 10 continued to add to his World Cup story, four decades after Diego Maradona’s famous achievements.
Messi sealed the win in added time with his second goal of the match, taking his World Cup tally to 18 — one more than Brazil’s Marta.
His hat-trick in Argentina’s previous 3-0 win over Algeria came on the 20th anniversary of his World Cup debut, when he also scored. Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup, and Monday’s match was his FIFA-record 28th appearance in the tournament.
Klose played 24 World Cup matches for Germany and ended his fourth tournament by winning the 2014 final 1-0 after extra time against Messi’s Argentina. Brazil’s Ronaldo is third on the list with 15 goals, while Gerd Müller and Kylian Mbappé have 14 each.
Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, 68, has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, the family said last week. Jorge has long managed his son’s career and business affairs.
