Messi breaks FIFA World Cup all-time scoring record with 18 goals vs Austria
Synopsis
Lionel Messi did what many thought impossible — he made Miroslav Klose's 12-year-old World Cup scoring record look beatable, then broke it in a single evening in Dallas. With 18 goals across six World Cups and the Golden Boot race already in his grasp, the 2026 tournament is shaping up as Messi's most statistically dominant yet.
Key Takeaways
Lionel Messi scored a brace against Austria on 23 June 2026 to reach 18 FIFA World Cup goals , surpassing Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16 .
Argentina won 2-0 in Dallas , securing their place in the Round of 32 .
Messi is the first men's player to appear in six FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026).
Klose , 48, called Messi 'the best footballer of all time' in a statement to Sueddeutsche Zeitung .
Messi leads the tournament's scoring race with 5 goals in just 2 matches at the 2026 edition.
Lionel Messi etched his name deeper into football history on 23 June 2026, surpassing former Germany forward Miroslav Klose as the FIFA World Cup's all-time leading scorer after netting a brace in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria in Dallas. A first-half strike broke the record, and a stoppage-time goal extended Messi's career World Cup tally to an unprecedented 18 goals.
The Record-Breaking Moment
Messi's first-half strike drew him level with Klose's long-standing mark of 16 goals, before his stoppage-time finish pushed him two clear to 18. The brace also secured La Albiceleste's place in the Round of 32, making the evening doubly significant for the reigning champions. Messi had previously scored five goals in his first two matches of this tournament — a hat-trick against Algeria in the opening round, followed by this historic double against Austria.
Klose Salutes a Generational Talent
Klose, who held the record for 12 years after netting across every World Cup final between 2002 and 2014, was gracious in defeat. Speaking to German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the 48-year-old said: 'I've always said Messi is no slouch. For me, Lionel Messi is the best footballer of all time! Congratulations, champion!'
Notably, Klose had anticipated the milestone even before the tournament began. In a pre-tournament interview with FIFA, he said: 'Messi is simply Messi. I've always admired the way he solved problems and the way he carried himself as a person, even on the pitch.'
A Sixth World Cup — and Five Goals Already
The achievement is made all the more remarkable by its context. This is Messi's sixth FIFA World Cup campaign — spanning 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 — making him the first men's player in history to appear in six editions of the tournament. He has scored at five of those six tournaments, with his debut World Cup goal coming against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006.
His tournament-by-tournament tally tells the story of a career arc: 1 goal in 2006, 4 in 2014, 1 in 2018, 7 in 2022, and now 5 in 2026 — already leading the Golden Boot race heading into the knockout rounds.
Messi's Reaction: 'I'm Just Going to Enjoy This Moment'
A visibly drained Messi was candid about his state of mind after the match. Asked to pick his favourite among his 18 World Cup goals, he told Telemundo: 'I don't know, to be honest, I can't remember right now. I'm tired, I'm running low on energy, and I'm finding it hard to think, so anyway, I'm just going to enjoy this moment, and I'm looking forward to celebrating with my team-mates.'
Argentina's campaign continues as one of the most watched storylines of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Messi now firmly at the centre of the tournament's defining narrative heading into the knockout stage.
Point of View
At an age when most forwards have long retired from international football, underlines how anomalous his career has been. What mainstream coverage risks underselling is the structural achievement: six World Cups, goals in five of them, and now the outright record at the one tournament that had historically eluded him until 2022. The 2026 campaign is not a farewell lap — it is, statistically, his peak World Cup form.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many World Cup goals does Lionel Messi have now?
Lionel Messi has scored 18 FIFA World Cup goals in total, after netting a brace against Austria on 23 June 2026 in Dallas. This makes him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, surpassing Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16.
Whose record did Messi break at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Messi broke the record previously held by former Germany forward Miroslav Klose, who had scored 16 World Cup goals across tournaments from 2002 to 2014. Klose had held the record for 12 years.
What did Miroslav Klose say about Messi breaking his record?
Klose congratulated Messi warmly, telling Sueddeutsche Zeitung: 'I've always said Messi is no slouch. For me, Lionel Messi is the best footballer of all time! Congratulations, champion!' He had also praised Messi before the tournament in a separate FIFA interview.
How many World Cups has Lionel Messi played in?
Messi has played in six FIFA World Cups — 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 — making him the first men's player in history to appear in six editions. He has scored at five of those six tournaments.
How has Messi performed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far?
Messi has been in exceptional form at the 2026 World Cup, scoring five goals in Argentina's first two matches — a hat-trick against Algeria and a record-breaking brace against Austria. He leads the tournament's Golden Boot race heading into the knockout rounds.
