Messi Surpasses Klose to Become World Cup’s Leading Scorer
Lionel Messi has taken sole ownership of FIFA World Cup scoring history after netting twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria.
The victory was secured by his brace, but the bigger story was his record-breaking achievement on the global stage.
Messi’s first goal of the night pushed him beyond Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who had held the record since 2014. Klose’s long-standing mark had stood as a symbol of consistency and efficiency across multiple tournaments.
The breakthrough came after Messi had earlier missed a penalty, briefly delaying the historic moment. He eventually opened the scoring after linking up with Facundo Medina, finishing calmly to reach his 17th World Cup goal.
That strike alone was enough to move him ahead of Klose in the all-time rankings. Messi later added a second goal deep into stoppage time to extend both Argentina’s lead and his record tally.
His overall World Cup record now stands at 18 goals in 28 appearances across six tournaments since his debut in 2006. The achievement adds another layer to a career defined by longevity and decisive performances at the highest level.
He has also been central to Argentina’s current campaign, contributing heavily to their goal output in the tournament.
With Kylian Mbappé on 14 goals and still active in the competition, the chase behind Messi remains open, but the Argentine has set a new benchmark.