After a great collective play, Argentina star Lionel Messi opened the score against Austria and surpassed Miroslav Klose as the all-time World Cup top goalscorer. Lionel Messi found the back of the net on Monday during a Group L clash against Austria, officially becoming the all-time leading scorer in 2026 World Cup history by shattering the long-standing record held by German legend Miroslav Klose.
After uncharacteristically missing a penalty kick in the eighth minute, Messi redeemed himself with a clinical finish in the 38th minute of play. The historic sequence began with a brilliant collective buildup that allowed Thiago Almada to whip a precise cross into the penalty box, where Enzo Fernández dummy-passed the ball through his legs to set up a first-time strike for the arriving captain.
With that landmark goal, Messi has now accumulated 17 career goals on soccer’s biggest international stage to claim sole possession of the tournament’s all-time scoring crown. The legendary forward surpasses Klose, who previously claimed the historic record back in 2014 by reaching a career total of 16 goals.
The GOAT stands alone.MESSI BECOMES THE ALL-TIME LEADING GOALSCORER IN MEN’S FIFA WORLD CUP HISTORY 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/aWY9thIuUG— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 22, 2026
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