ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) In his sixth World Cup, Lionel Messi continues to achieve greatness by scoring goals and breaking records. The Argentina captain made headlines once again, solidifying his place in history with a standout performance that included both goals in a 2-0 victory over Austria on June 22, 2026.
Messi's brace brought his total World Cup goals to 18, giving him the record for the most goals scored in World Cup history, overtaking Miroslav Klose's previous mark of 16. This milestone came just six days after scoring his first-ever hat trick in the tournament, where he matched Klose's record. Notably, Kylian Mbappé also matched Klose's total during that same day, scoring two goals in France's 3-0 victory against Iraq.
After the match against Austria, Messi expressed his joy for the team's victory, despite the intense nature of the match. "Beyond anything, I’m so happy for the win,” he stated. “It was huge, tough, and difficult. All matches in this World Cup are very even, very intense.”
The first of Messi's two goals came in the 38th minute, just two days before his 39th birthday, amidst personal challenges, including concerns for his ailing father back in Argentina. The goal marked the sixth consecutive World Cup match in which Messi has found the net, placing him alongside legends Just Fontaine and Jairzinho as one of the few players to accomplish such a feat.
Interestingly, Messi began his match with a moment of frustration after missing a penalty kick in the ninth minute. "There were moments when I was really angry about missing the penalty, but I was able to make up for it,” Messi reflected. This performance underscored his resilience and skill, as he has now scored 4 out of 7 attempted penalties in World Cup history.
Following his record-breaking goal, Messi celebrated with exuberance, running towards a corner and raising his arm to share the moment with the enthusiastic pro-Argentina crowd comprised of 70,649 fans at the sold-out AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni succinctly praised Messi, stating, "I have no more words to talk about Leo." Meanwhile, Austria's coach, Ralf Rangnick, acknowledged Messi's unrivaled talent, stating, "someone who is 39 years old and can score two goals... makes a difference."
Messi's second goal came in stoppage time as he deftly maneuvered the ball through several defenders after his initial attempt was blocked by goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. Reflecting on the competitive nature of the tournament, Messi emphasized, "The way things are going in the World Cup, the way it’s being played, it’s a very even game. No one is giving away anything.”
The journey to this incredible feat began with Messi's 200th international appearance prior to the Austria match, where he had celebrated with a hat trick against Algeria. That performance was also significant, as it followed tough personal times related to his father's health issues.
As Messi continues to shine on the world stage, his contributions to football remain unparalleled, further solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
