Lionel Messi became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with two defining moments against Austria, including a clinical curled finish after sending an early penalty wide. The 38-year-old then sealed a 2-0 win in second-half stoppage time as Argentina tight
Lionel Messi knew exactly what he was chasing, and for nine minutes the World Cup all-time record hovered tantalisingly out of reach—until he finally curled the ball into the corner against Austria.
The Argentina captain stepped into the match level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals. having followed up a hat-trick in the tournament opener against Algeria with another record-sized responsibility on his shoulders. But after an early chance to go clear. Messi sent a penalty wide of the target after nine minutes. a rare wobble before the landmark moment arrived.
It didn’t take long for him to correct the narrative. Messi finished off a flowing move from the holders when Thiago Almada dummied Facundo Medina’s cross. creating space at the edge of the penalty area. Messi swept home with his left foot, the kind of strike that looks inevitable even while it’s flying.
“He’s just a matter of time,” BBC co-commentator Danny Murphy said as the goal arrived, capturing the feeling around it: brilliant execution, and a record that could only be delayed for so long. With that finish, Messi moved clear of Klose as the World Cup’s leading scorer.
The night only got heavier for Austria. Messi then extended the record again. reaching 18 World Cup goals in second-half stoppage time to help Argentina complete a 2-0 victory. Julian Alvarez initially saw his effort denied by Austria’s goalkeeper after Messi looked like he might set up the forward. When the ball came loose. it was fed back to Messi—he rounded Austria’s goalkeeper. had a shot blocked by a defender. and recovered the rebound to slot into the net.
Messi later set another marker for the future, with a free kick deep into stoppage time that aimed for back-to-back World Cup hat-tricks. This time, his strike went wide. But the match already belonged to him, and Argentina’s task was finished.
That decisive edge carried wider weight than a single game. Messi became just the third player to score in six consecutive World Cup matches, joining France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho, who achieved the feat in 1958 and 1970 respectively.
In the same night he showed how records are built, he also showed how quickly they can be tested. His tally of 18 goals came in 28 World Cup matches. and the new landmark is expected to face immediate pressure from France’s Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe is four goals behind Messi, having scored 14 times in 15 World Cup matches.
For Argentina, the timing mattered. The victory confirmed the team’s place in the knock-out stages, and Messi’s own numbers are growing at a startling pace—he has now scored five goals in two matches to lead the race for the golden boot.
After the final whistle. the celebration looked different—not just because the record had been secured. but because it felt like Argentina’s rhythm had been built around one familiar presence. Messi was embraced by his teammates. and the moment reached beyond football’s usual boundaries when Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Muller—conducting punditry work for German television—were seen joining the scenes.
Oliver Giroud. speaking as a pundit. summed up what his teammates appeared to live every time the ball came near: “Lionel Messi has got the players around him just looking for him. They play for him and that’s a huge honour for them. They have so much respect for him, it’s such a privilege for them to play with him.”.
Giroud added that the standards around Messi have sharpened with age rather than softened: “They are ready to die on the pitch for him and give everything to get another World Cup back-to-back. He is more decisive than ever.”
For Austria, the question now is simple: how do you slow down a player who misses a penalty early, then takes over the rest of the game anyway—curling the record into place, then returning minutes later to seal the win in stoppage time.
Lionel Messi Argentina Austria World Cup Miroslav Klose Kylian Mbappe golden boot penalty miss Almada Facundo Medina Thiago Almada Facundo Medina cross Just Fontaine Jairzinho Klopp Thomas Muller
Wait he missed the penalty then still broke the record??
So he sends a penalty wide and then everyone’s like “all-time scorer”?? I swear soccer is rigged sometimes. Congrats to Messi though I guess.
I thought Austria was supposed to win or at least not fold like that. Also stoppage time goals always feel like the ref just adds extra for chaos. Nine minutes away from the record and then boom, like cmon.
Messi curled it into the corner after the penalty miss… ok but how is this “exactly what he was chasing” if he already missed? My brain can’t do that math. Still, 18 goals or whatever in stoppage time sounds kinda unfair lol