Lionel Messi scored two goals on Monday to lead Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Austria and become the all-time World Cup leading scorer [1, 2].

The achievement marks a historic milestone in international football, as Messi surpasses a long-standing record and cements his legacy during the 2026 tournament.

The match took place in Arlington, Texas, where the Argentina captain faced an early setback by missing a penalty kick in the first half [1, 4]. Despite the miss, Messi rebounded to score a brace, two goals, to secure the win for his team [1, 2].

With these additions, Messi has reached a total of 18 career World Cup goals [1]. This total surpasses the previous record of 16 goals held by Miroslav Klose [3].

"I'm happy we got the win and to give joy to the Argentine people," Messi said [2].

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised the captain's resilience during the match. Scaloni said Messi showed great character after the penalty miss and delivered when it mattered most [2].

Messi also addressed the personal milestone of breaking the scoring record. "It feels great to break the record, but the most important thing is the team," Messi said [3].

The victory ensures Argentina maintains its momentum in the competition while providing a significant morale boost to the team and its supporters [1, 2].

“Messi has reached a total of 18 career World Cup goals.”

By surpassing Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals, Messi has established a new benchmark for individual performance in the world's most prestigious tournament. This record, combined with Argentina's victory in the U.S., reinforces the team's offensive reliability and Messi's continued influence on the game even in the later stages of his career.