Lionel Messi has once again left his mark on the football world, officially becoming the all-time leading scorer in the history of the FIFA World Cup. His two goals in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria propelled him past the previous record holder, Miroslav Klose of Germany. This latest brace marked Messi’s 18th goal in six World Cup appearances, a monumental achievement.
The Argentine superstar’s recent scoring spree has been extraordinary. Following his hat-trick last week, he has now surpassed legends like Gerd Müller (West Germany) and Kylian Mbappé (France), who both netted 14 goals, as well as Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazario with his 15 goals. Remarkably, Messi has scored more goals in just two matches than many players manage across entire tournaments.
His World Cup scoring breakdown paints a picture of consistent excellence: one goal in 2006, four in 2014, one in 2018, seven in 2022, and an impressive five (with the tournament not yet concluded) in the current 2026 edition.
Beyond the raw numbers, Messi has also etched his name in the record books for consecutive goal-scoring streaks. He is now the third player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive matches, joining the ranks of Just Fontaine in 1958 and Jairzinho in 1970. This calculation, according to Opta, includes the final four matches of the 2022 World Cup. He narrowly missed out on a hat-trick in the match against Austria, having uncharacteristically missed a penalty.
This crucial win sees Argentina through to the knockout stages of the tournament, virtually guaranteeing them the top spot in Group J. A potential Round of 16 clash against Cape Verde now looms as a distinct possibility, setting the stage for what could be a historic encounter.