Lionel Messi cemented his legendary status Monday night, breaking the all-time World Cup scoring record during Argentina’s group stage showdown with Austria in Arlington, Texas.
The Argentine superstar found the back of the net for the 17th time in World Cup competition, surpassing the previous record for goals scored by a man in the tournament’s history. The milestone goal sent the crowd into a frenzy — but Messi wasn’t finished.
He went on to score a second goal in the same match, pushing his World Cup total to 18 and making him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, a distinction that now spans both the men’s and women’s game.
The record-breaking performance came during the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, with Argentina facing Austria on Monday.
