Messi breaks – Lionel Messi scored in the 38th minute against Austria on Monday, June 22, his 17th men’s World Cup goal, breaking the all-time record previously held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. The strike also pulled Messi level with Marta’s all-time World Cup tally of 17 g
The moment the ball left Lionel Messi’s foot, the record was already moving—long before the scoreboard confirmed it.
In Argentina’s men’s World Cup match against Austria on Monday. June 22. Messi found the back of the net in the 38th minute to reach his 17th career World Cup goal. making him the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history. He received a pass from the left as he ran into the box and fired straight past the goalkeeper.
The goal didn’t just extend his tally. It changed the list itself. Messi broke the previous record of 16 goals held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
Earlier in the tournament, Messi entered the 2026 World Cup with 13 career goals. He then climbed to 16 after scoring a hat trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening game on June 17. For a brief window on Monday. it looked like the chase might stall: Messi stepped up for a penalty kick 12 minutes into the match against Austria. but he missed. sending the ball wide right.
He didn’t stay stuck there. Minutes later, he delivered the kind of finish that turns a game into history.
With the 17-goal total, Messi is now level with Brazil legend Marta for the most all-time World Cup goals. Marta has scored 17 goals across her six World Cup appearances.
France’s own scoring momentum also stood out on Monday. Kylian Mbappé scored twice against Senegal to bring his career World Cup goals to 14. The 27-year-old forward is expected to look for more later on Monday when France faces Iraq.
Mbappé’s path is different in pace if not in purpose. He is nearly 12 years younger than Messi, meaning there’s still a realistic chance—eventually—of overtaking the Argentina legend if the tournament stretches on.
The numbers now read like a shifting map: 17 for Messi, 16 for Klose, then 15 for Ronaldo, 14 for Gerd Muller, and 14 for Mbappé, alongside other names that defined World Cup scoring for decades.
Men’s World Cup all-time goal list shows the spread clearly: 17 – Lionel Messi. Argentina; 16 – Miroslav Klose. Germany; 15 – Ronaldo. Brazil; 14 – Gerd Muller. West Germany; 14 – Kylian Mbappe. France; 13 – Just Fontaine. France; 12 – Pele. Brazil; 11 – Sandor Kocsis. Hungary; 11 – Jurgen Klinsmann. West Germany and Germany; 10 – Helmut Rahn. West Germany; 10 – Gary Lineker. England; 10 – Gabriel Batistuta. Argentina; 10 – Teofilo Cubillas. Peru; 10 – Thomas Muller. Germany; 10 – Grzergor Lato. Poland.
Lionel Messi Argentina Austria World Cup record Miroslav Klose Kylian Mbappé France Senegal Iraq Marta 2026 World Cup all-time leading scorer
So he missed a penalty but still broke the record… respect, I guess.
I don’t get it, isn’t the record like for all-time *World Cup* goals? Seems weird they say it “was already moving” before the scoreboard lol. Also Austria held back?? held back from what, scoring? Because it sounded like Argentina just bullied them.
Austria held back… but Messi still scored in the 38th minute like it was nothing. Then he missed a penalty at minute 12 and I swear that was the record moment? Like if he scored the penalty would it’ve counted twice? My brain hurts reading this.
This is wild because they’re comparing men to Marta (women) saying he’s “level” like it’s the same thing. Also I saw something about France playing Iraq?? Isn’t that not a real World Cup opponent or am I mixing it up with the Olympics? Anyway Messi is inevitable.