Football icon Lionel Messi has officially made a name in sporting history after becoming the highest goalscorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history, breaking a long-standing record previously held by German legend Miroslav Klose.
Messi achieved the historic feat on Monday, June 22, 2026, during 2026 FIFA World Cup action when Argentina faced Austria in a crucial Group J clash at the Dallas Stadium in the United States.
The 38-year-old Argentina captain scored his 17th career FIFA World Cup goal, officially moving past Klose, who had held the record with 16 goals for the last 12 years.
The historic moment came in the 38th minute of the match, but it was not a straightforward road to history for the football superstar.
Earlier in the game, Messi missed a penalty in the ninth minute after Austria’s goalkeeper denied him the chance to score early. However, the veteran forward quickly responded in trademark fashion, finding space just outside the penalty area before firing a perfectly timed first-time shot into the bottom-left corner to give Argentina the lead and secure his place in football history.
The goal marked yet another extraordinary achievement in what has already become one of the most remarkable international careers in football.
With the strike against Austria, Messi has now scored 17 World Cup goals in 28 career World Cup appearances, further strengthening his reputation as one of the greatest footballers the sport has ever produced.
The record-breaking goal also extended another impressive streak for the Argentine captain, who has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches dating back to the 2022 tournament, showcasing a level of consistency rarely seen on football’s biggest stage.
Messi has entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup in incredible form.
Before facing Austria, he had already scored a sensational hat-trick against Algeria during Argentina’s opening tournament fixture, meaning Monday’s goal became his fourth goal of the 2026 World Cup campaign.
The milestone also places Messi alongside another football legend.
His 17th World Cup goal now equals the all-time overall FIFA World Cup scoring record held by Brazilian women’s football icon Marta, who previously set the record with 17 goals in FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments.
While Messi currently stands alone at the top of men’s football history, the race for the record may not be over just yet.
French superstar Kylian Mbappé remains one of the biggest threats to Messi’s newly established record.
Mbappé currently sits on 14 FIFA World Cup goals and remains active in the ongoing tournament, meaning he still has opportunities to close the gap if France makes a deep run in the competition.
Messi’s latest achievement has also revived conversations about the legendary players who dominated the World Cup scoring charts before him.
Klose, who now drops to second place, scored his 16 World Cup goals across 24 matches in four tournaments between 2002 and 2014. The German striker built his reputation through aerial dominance and exceptional positioning inside the box.
Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazário sits third on the all-time list with 15 World Cup goals. Ronaldo, widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers in football history, held the scoring record from 2006 until Klose surpassed him in 2014.
German icon Gerd Müller remains one of the tournament’s most clinical finishers ever. Nicknamed “The Bomber,” Müller scored 14 goals in just 13 World Cup matches, holding the record for an incredible 32 years before Ronaldo eventually overtook him.
Mbappé currently shares fourth place alongside Müller with 14 goals and continues to chase history himself.
