Lionel Messi has etched his name even deeper into football history, but not without a moment of sheer disbelief. The Argentine maestro now stands alone as the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup competition, netting his 17th career goal in the 38th minute against Austria on Monday, June 22.
The record, previously held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose at 16 goals, seemed destined to fall earlier in the match. When Messi stepped up for a penalty kick just 12 minutes into the game, the stadium held its breath. Then came the shocker: he sent the ball wide right, a miss that left fans and pundits alike stunned.
But Messi, never one to be denied, redeemed himself minutes later with a clinical finish that pushed him past Klose. The goal also tied him with Brazil’s Marta for the most all-time World Cup goals across both men’s and women’s tournaments. Marta, a six-time World Cup participant, has 17 goals to her name.
Messi entered the 2026 World Cup with 13 career goals but quickly surged to 16 after a hat trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening match on June 17. Now, with the record in hand, the football world watches to see if he can add more.
Meanwhile, France’s Kylian Mbappe is making his own charge. The 27-year-old scored twice against Senegal, bringing his career World Cup tally to 14 goals. With Mbappe nearly 12 years younger than Messi, many believe he has a real shot at eventually overtaking the Argentine icon. Mbappe will have another chance to close the gap when France faces Iraq later Monday.
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