Argentina captain Lionel Messi has become the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history after netting his 17th World Cup goal during Argentina’s Group J match against Austria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The historic goal saw Messi surpass former Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 World Cup goals.
Messi achieved the feat after finding the back of the net in Argentina’s clash with Austria, moving ahead of Klose and cementing his place as the tournament’s most prolific goalscorer. The goal came just days after the Argentine star had equalled the German legend’s record with a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening World Cup match.
The milestone adds another remarkable chapter to Messi’s illustrious career, which already includes multiple individual and team honours.
