18 Legendary Goals: Inside the Unstoppable Lionel Messi World Cup Scoring Record!
Lionel Messi has officially broken the all-time Lionel Messi World Cup scoring record during Argentina’s dominant 2-0 victory against Austria in Group J.
Despite missing an early penalty, the 38-year-old Argentina captain bounced back in the first half. He beat Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager with a brilliant left-foot finish. This mark represented his 17th tournament goal, officially overtaking Germany’s Miroslav Klose to claim the legendary Lionel Messi World Cup scoring record.
Messi didn’t stop there. In stoppage time, he capitalized on a rebound from Julian Alvarez’s shot to score his second goal of the match. This late strike extended his historic Lionel Messi World Cup scoring record to a total of 18 global tournament goals.
Turning 39 this week, Messi currently leads the 2026 tournament scoring charts with 5 goals. This follows his incredible hat-trick in Argentina’s opening game against Algeria.
Before the tournament, former record-holder Miroslav Klose praised Messi’s impact on football, stating he has always been a fan of the Argentine maestro. Messi has now played in a record-tying six World Cup editions, scoring in five of them since his first goal against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006.
Exhausted after creating history, Messi told Telemundo that he couldn’t pick a favorite goal among his 18 strikes, choosing instead to focus on resting and celebrating the monumental moment with his teammates.
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Discover how the unstoppable Lionel Messi World Cup scoring record reached 18 goals after scoring 2 epic strikes against Austria to shatter Miroslav Klose’s historic feat.
Table of Contents
Where Does the New Lionel Messi World Cup Scoring Record Sit Among the FIFA World Cup All-Time Leading Scorers?
Lionel Messi, Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Pelé, Gerd Müller, and Just Fontaine are among the many greats to feature.
- Lionel Messi has overtaken Miroslav Klose to top the overall World Cup scoring chart.
- Brazil’s great Ronaldo stands one goal behind Klose in third
- Kylian Mbappe has climbed above compatriot Just Fontaine
Ever since its inception in 1930, the FIFA World Cup™ has brought together the globe’s greatest players in a celebration of the beautiful game.
Before the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Miroslav Klose was the outright leader. Still, Lionel Messi has now overtaken him at the top of the charts after a hat-trick – his first in the World Cup – in Argentina’s opening game against Algeria, before finding the net again twice against Austria.
Here, FIFA lists the leading marksmen in World Cup history.
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Goals: 18 World Cups: Six – 2006 (one goal), 2010 (no goals), 2014 (four goals), 2018 (one goal), 2022 (seven goals), 2026 (five goals to date). Matches played: 28
Argentina v Austria | Group J | FIFA World Cup 2026™ | Highlights
Watch highlights of the match between Argentina and Austria played at Dallas Stadium on Monday, 22 June at 12:00 (local time).
Miroslav Klose – Germany
Goals: 16 World Cups: Four – 2002 (five goals), 2006 (five goals), 2010 (four goals), 2014 (two goals). Matches played: 24
Ronaldo – Brazil
Goals: 15 World Cups: Four – 1994 (no goals), 1998 (four goals), 2002 (eight goals), 2006 (three goals). Matches played: 19
Gerd Müller – West Germany
Goals: 14 World Cups: Two – 1970 (10 goals), 1974 (four goals). Matches played: 13
Kylian Mbappe – France
Goals: 16 World Cups: Three – 2018 (four goals), 2022 (eight goals), 2026 (four goals to date). Matches played: 16
Just Fontaine – France
Goals: 13 World Cups: One – 1958 Matches played: Six
Pele – Brazil
Goals: 12 World Cups: Four – 1958 (six goals), 1962 (one goal), 1966 (one goal), 1970 (four goals). Matches played: 14
Lionel Messi’s 18 World Cup Goals
Lionel Messi has officially reached the pinnacle of football history by setting an astonishing Lionel Messi World Cup scoring record of 18 total goals. Spanning six tournament editions from 2006 to 2026, his historic journey showcases unmatched longevity and genius on the international stage.
The legendary Lionel Messi’s World Cup scoring record began in 2006, when he scored his first-ever tournament goal against Serbia and Montenegro in the group stage. After a quiet 2010 campaign, Messi returned fiercely in 2014, netting four group-stage goals: one against Bosnia and Herzegovina, one against Iran, and a brilliant double against Nigeria. In 2018, his clinical form against Nigeria continued as he scored yet another crucial group-stage goal.
The momentum toward the ultimate Lionel Messi World Cup scoring record reached a fever pitch during the historic 2022 tournament in Qatar, where he scored seven life-changing goals. Messi started with group-stage penalties against Saudi Arabia and Mexico. He then dominated the knockout rounds, scoring in the Round of 16 against Australia, the Quarter-finals against the Netherlands, and the Semi-finals against Croatia. He capped off this magical run with two unforgettable goals against France in the final.
Finally, in the 2026 edition, he cemented his legacy into eternity. Messi opened Group J with a spectacular hat-trick against Algeria. He then broke Miroslav Klose’s long-standing mark by scoring two decisive goals against Austria, cementing the absolute Lionel Messi World Cup scoring record at 18 goals. Facing world-class defenders across two decades, nobody has been able to stop his clinical left foot. Ultimately, the Lionel Messi World Cup scoring record is a historic milestone that will inspire generations of football players for decades to come.