Argentina captain Lionel Messi has become the highest goalscorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history after scoring his 17th tournament goal during Argentina’s Group J clash against Austria at the 2026 World Cup.
Gatekeepers News reports that the historic strike saw Messi move past former Germany forward Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 World Cup goals.
The Argentine star reached the milestone in his sixth World Cup appearance, further cementing his place among football’s greatest players.
Messi scored the record-breaking goal in the first half after finishing a move created by teammate Facundo Medina. The goal came despite the 38-year-old missing an earlier penalty in the match.
The achievement comes just days after Messi equalled Klose’s long-standing record with a hat-trick against Algeria. His latest goal also marked his sixth consecutive World Cup match with a goal and his 28th appearance at the tournament, another record in men’s World Cup history.
Messi’s latest feat has been widely celebrated by football fans around the world, with the Argentine legend continuing to add to a career that already includes a World Cup title, multiple continental trophies and numerous individual honours.
