Messi's record 18th World Cup goal fires Argentina into last 32 with 2-0 win
Synopsis
Two days before his 39th birthday, Lionel Messi became the outright top scorer in World Cup history — surpassing Miroslav Klose's 16-goal record — by netting his 17th and 18th tournament goals in a 2-0 win over Austria at Dallas. Argentina are through to the last 32, and the record books may need rewriting again before this edition is done.
Key Takeaways
Lionel Messi scored his 17th and 18th FIFA World Cup goals on 23 June at Dallas Stadium , setting a new all-time individual scoring record.
Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in Group J to advance to the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 .
Messi surpassed Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16 goals; the updated top-5 reads Messi 18, Klose 16, Ronaldo (Brazil) 15, Mbappé and Müller 14 each.
Messi became only the third player to score in six successive World Cup tournaments , joining Just Fontaine and Jairzinho .
He has now scored five goals in the 2026 edition alone, despite missing a penalty in the same match.
Argentina's place as Group J winners was contingent on the result of the Jordan vs Algeria match later on 23 June .
Lionel Messi rewrote the history books on Monday, 23 June at the Dallas Stadium, scoring a brace to become the highest individual goal-scorer in FIFA World Cup history as defending champions Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in a Group J fixture and advanced to the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The victory was Argentina's second in the group stage, confirming their place in the last 32.
Record-Breaking Night for Messi
Messi, just two days shy of his 39th birthday, netted in the 38th minute to claim his 17th World Cup goal, surpassing Miroslav Klose of Germany, who had held the record at 16. He then extended that mark with an opportunistic finish in the 90+5th minute to make it 18 — a total that now stands alone at the summit of the tournament's all-time scoring charts.
The updated list reads: Messi (Argentina) — 18 goals, Klose (Germany) — 16, Ronaldo (Brazil) — 15, with Kylian Mbappé (France) and Gerd Müller (Germany) next at 14 apiece.
Messi Joins Exclusive Scoring Streak Club
Beyond the aggregate record, Messi also became only the third player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive tournaments, joining Just Fontaine of France and Jairzinho of Brazil in that elite company. His five goals in the 2026 edition alone underline that, at nearly 39, he remains the tournament's most dangerous individual.
How the Goals Came
Argentina dominated the early exchanges but were briefly disrupted when Messi missed a penalty in the first half, ceding momentum to an Austria side that pressed high and cut off Argentina's build-up play for a sustained spell. The Austrians kept the match level for roughly 15 minutes without, however, converting their pressure into a goal.
Argentina regained control through a sharp midfield combination: Messi won possession, fed Thiago Almada, and received a precise return pass before unleashing a clinical finish past Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager to make it 1-0 at the 38th minute. He then sealed the win in the fifth minute of added time with a second goal, his 18th in World Cup football.
Argentina's Path to the Knockouts
The 2-0 result confirmed Argentina's progression to the last 32 with two wins from their group games. Their status as Group J winners was set to be confirmed pending the outcome of the Jordan vs Algeria match later the same day — if Jordan failed to beat Algeria, Argentina would be confirmed at the top of the group.
With the knockout stage now secured, Argentina will look to build on Messi's form as they pursue a third successive World Cup title — a feat no nation has achieved in the modern era.
Point of View
In a tournament featuring the deepest squad depth in history, and after missing a penalty in the same game. What mainstream coverage underplays is the structural question: Argentina's path to a third consecutive title will eventually require the rest of the squad to carry more weight, because no single player, however historic, can sustain a knockout-round campaign alone. The Thiago Almada combination is a signal worth watching — if that partnership deepens, Argentina become genuinely difficult to stop.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many World Cup goals does Messi have in total?
Lionel Messi now holds the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring record with 18 goals, after netting twice against Austria on 23 June 2026. He surpassed the previous record of 16 goals held by Germany's Miroslav Klose.
Did Argentina qualify for the knockout stage of FIFA World Cup 2026?
Yes, Argentina secured their place in the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 2-0 win over Austria in Group J on 23 June. It was their second group-stage victory of the tournament.
What other record did Messi set against Austria?
Messi became only the third player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive tournament appearances, joining France's Just Fontaine and Brazil's Jairzinho in that exclusive group.
Who assisted Messi's first goal against Austria?
Thiago Almada provided the decisive assist for Messi's 38th-minute opener. Messi played the ball to Almada, who returned a precise pass that Messi converted past Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
Could Argentina finish as Group J winners?
Argentina were on course to top Group J as of 23 June, but their confirmation as group winners depended on the outcome of the Jordan vs Algeria match played later the same day — a Jordan failure to beat Algeria would seal Argentina's top spot.
