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Messi becomes all-time World Cup top scorer as Argentina edge Austria
22nd June, 2026 10:35 PM
Lionel Messi has now inscribed his name in the history books by becoming the all-time FIFA World Cup top scorer.
Before the 2026 global showpiece, staged in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, Miroslav Klose was the outright leader. However, Lionel Messi has now overtaken him at the top of the charts.
His campaign at the World Cup commenced with a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening game against Algeria before finding the net twice against Austria on Monday, June 22, 2026.
Messi matched the 16-goal record set by the Germany international with his hat-trick in the opening game against Algeria.
His brace against Austria moved him clear on top of the charts since the inception of the FIFA World Cup in 1930.
Game against Austria
The Argentina captain started the game on a bad foot after missing a penalty inside 10 minutes, skewing his attempt wide of the right-hand post.
He then struggled to get into the game before his rhythm peaked in the 39th minute, when he lodged a wonderful left-footed strike past the Austria goalkeeper.
Messi’s dynamic double not only took him top of this tournament’s Golden Boot standings but also sent Lionel Scaloni’s defending champions into the Round of 32 from Group J.
This came even as Ralf Rangnick’s men struggled to break down the defending champions.
Key stats for Messi so far
Lionel Messi joins France’s Just Fontaine (1958) and Brazil’s Jairzinho (1970) as the only three players to score in six consecutive World Cup matches.
His hat-trick against Algeria also saw him become the highest-scoring South American at the tournament, surpassing Brazil legend Ronaldo (15).
At the age of 38 years and 357 days, Lionel Messi became the oldest hat-trick scorer in World Cup history against Algeria. The previous oldest was Cristiano Ronaldo, who was 33 years and 130 days old when he scored a treble against Spain in 2018.
He will be looking to extend his goalscoring streak in Argentina’s final Group J match against Jordan to help his side get the maximum nine points.
