Lionel Messi added another milestone to his legendary career by becoming the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. The Argentine captain scored twice against Austria on Monday to break Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record and take his tally to 18 World Cup goals.
Just two days before his 39th birthday, Messi once again showed why he remains one of football’s greatest players. Playing in his record sixth World Cup, the Argentine star continued his impressive form after already scoring a hat-trick against Algeria earlier in the tournament.
Messi had an early chance to break the record when Argentina received a penalty in the sixth minute after Lautaro Martinez was fouled inside the box. However, the veteran forward missed the spot-kick, only the third penalty miss of his World Cup career.
The breakthrough finally came in the 38th minute. Receiving the ball near the edge of the penalty area, Messi fired a powerful left-footed shot into the corner of the net to score his 17th World Cup goal and move past German legend Miroslav Klose.
Austria tried hard to find an equaliser in the second half and increased the pressure on Argentina. But deep into stoppage time, Messi struck again. After a quick exchange with Julian Alvarez, his first effort was blocked, but he reacted quickly and scored from close range to register his 18th World Cup goal.
The victory also secured Argentina’s place in the last 32 of the tournament.
Messi’s latest achievement comes after years of criticism and doubts about his international career. Those questions ended when he guided Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022. Since then, the Argentine superstar has continued to deliver memorable performances for his country.
Despite concerns about his age and playing in Major League Soccer, Messi has once again proved that he remains one of the biggest stars in world football.
More than just the records and numbers, Messi’s calm style, vision and ability to control the game continue to make him special. While records may eventually be broken, his influence on the sport and the memories he has created are likely to be remembered for generations.
With 18 World Cup goals and another historic milestone to his name, Lionel Messi has once again shown why he is regarded as one of football’s all-time greats.
