Messi Becomes World Cup’s All-Time Leading Scorer with Historic 17th Goal
- Lionel Messi scored his 17th FIFA World Cup goal, setting a new all-time record.
- The Argentina captain surpassed Miroslav Klose’s previous mark of 16 goals.
- Argentina moved closer to the knockout stage with their Group J campaign continuing.
Lionel Messi etched his name even deeper into football history on Monday after becoming the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. The Argentina captain scored his 17th World Cup goal during his side’s group-stage match against Austria, breaking the previous record of 16 goals held by former Germany striker Miroslav Klose.
goal 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷 #meesi
— 🇳🇵 Mr. Edge 💙🇦🇷 (@Edge_Sarakaar) June 22, 2026
🚨🚨 MESSIIII!!! MESSIIII!!! MESSI SCORED!!! HISTORY!!! MESSIIIII!!! 🇦🇷🇦🇷
HE SCORED AFTER MISSING THE PENALTY!!! HE JUST MADE HISTORY!!! 🤩🤩#FootballLive #fifa2026 #argentina pic.twitter.com/SxCox2Sfy3
The landmark goal came in the 38th minute at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where Messi calmly finished to give Argentina the lead. The crowd erupted as the 38-year-old celebrated another milestone in an extraordinary international career. Earlier in the match, Messi had missed a penalty but quickly made amends with his record-breaking strike.
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Messi had already matched Klose’s long-standing record last week when he scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in the opening match of their World Cup title defence.
Now competing in his sixth FIFA World Cup, Messi continues to add to an already remarkable legacy. Since making his World Cup debut in 2006, he has gone on to score 121 goals in 201 appearances for Argentina, cementing his status as one of the greatest players in football history.
The veteran forward’s presence remains crucial for the reigning world champions as they aim to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend a World Cup title. Despite dealing with a minor hamstring issue before the tournament and concerns over his father’s health, Messi has continued to deliver on football’s biggest stage.
Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister praised his captain following the win over Algeria, saying Messi’s importance to the team is undeniable and that his influence extends far beyond his goals.
There had been speculation over whether Messi would participate in the tournament, with the Inter Miami star delaying a final decision until shortly before the competition began. However, the opportunity to represent Argentina once again and lead the defence of their world title ultimately proved too significant to pass up.
Argentina can secure qualification for the next round with a victory over Austria. They would also guarantee top spot in Group J if Jordan fail to defeat Algeria later on Monday.
Following Messi on the World Cup all-time scoring list are Brazil legend Ronaldo with 15 goals, Germany great Gerd Müller with 14, and France star Kylian Mbappé, who also has 14 World Cup goals and continues to climb the rankings.
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