DALLAS, Texas – Argentina captain Lionel Messi etched his name deeper into football history on Monday by becoming the all-time leading scorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history.
The 39-year-old forward scored his 17th World Cup goal during Argentina’s Group J clash against Austria, surpassing former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who previously held the men’s tournament record with 16 goals.
Messi’s strike also drew him level with Brazilian legend Marta, whose 17 goals remain the highest tally in Women’s World Cup history.
The record-breaking goal came after a swift Argentine attack. Messi initiated the move before making a late run into the penalty area, where he met a low cross from Facundo Medina and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
The goal gave defending champions Argentina the lead in their second group-stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and strengthened their bid to secure a place in the knockout rounds.
Argentina entered the contest in high spirits after opening their World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Algeria, and Messi’s latest milestone added another memorable chapter to his remarkable international career.
