Lionel Messi becomes World Cup all-time top scorer after Argentina 2-0 Austria

Messi sets new World Cup scoring record with brace

Lionel Messi became the FIFA World Cup's all-time leading scorer on 22 June 2026, firing a double as Argentina beat Austria 2-0. The goals—one scored seven minutes before half-time and the other in the match's closing action—gave Messi a new finals tally that eclipsed Miroslav Klose's previous mark and redefined his tournament legacy.

Why it matters

Messi's achievement redraws the record books at a tournament already central to his career narrative. Becoming the World Cup's all-time top scorer is a milestone that will be cited alongside his other major honours and has immediate significance for Argentina's campaign: the captain delivered on the biggest stage after an earlier missed penalty and left no doubt with his match-winning contributions.

How the match unfolded

Argentina beat Austria 2-0 in a fixture that kicked off at 17:00 UTC, according to the supplied match data. Messi had an eventful evening: he missed a penalty earlier in the game but then scored seven minutes before half-time to take the lead and later added a second with the last action of the match. The two goals were enough to secure victory and the new all-time finals scoring record.

What the record is and who it surpasses

The goals in this match moved Messi past Germany's Miroslav Klose, whose previous finals record dated from 2014. The source metadata reports that Messi reached 18 World Cup goals at finals with the double, overtaking Klose's long-standing tally and becoming the competition's highest scorer in men's World Cup history.

• Date: 22 June 2026 (match kickoff at 17:00 UTC, per match data).
• Result: Argentina 2–0 Austria (score confirmed in match_data and source).
• Messi scored twice, including a goal seven minutes before half-time and a late second goal.
• Messi missed a penalty earlier in the match, then said the goals were necessary to overcome that miss.
• Record: Messi became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Miroslav Klose's previous record from 2014; the supplied source notes Messi reached 18 goals at finals.

Immediate reactions and context

The source notes Messi savoured a 'special' feeling after breaking the record and admitted his match-winning goals were required to erase the disappointment of the missed penalty. Reactions from teammates, opponents and managers were not supplied in the provided metadata and are not included here.

This milestone arrives against the backdrop of Messi's long career at the top level and will inevitably be discussed in assessments of his place among the game's all-time greats. The supplied material focuses on the match and the record rather than broader statistical comparisons or historical debate.

What happens next

Argentina will now turn their attention to their next fixture in the World Cup. The immediate priority for the squad and manager will be to build on the victory and maintain momentum in the tournament; specific fixture dates, opponents and implications for group standings were not included in the supplied metadata.