Messi is currently the competition’s all-time and current top scorer with 17 and 4 goals respectively.
Published June 22, 2026
Lionel Messi scored his team’s first goal in Group J against Austria, breaking the record for the most goals in FIFA World Cup history and taking his tally to 17 in six soccer tournaments.
The Argentine captain reached the top of the charts on Monday when he ran home after 38 minutes in his team’s second group game to deafening cheers at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, USA.
Messi scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria in North America last week, kicking off South America’s title defense and equaling Miroslav Klose’s 16th World Cup goal total.
The 38-year-old missed a penalty early in the game.
Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup, having played in his first World Cup in 2006, and currently has 121 goals in 201 games for his country.
He became the third player to score for his country in six consecutive World Cups.
His enduring quality bodes well for Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.
Messi cried after his first goal against Algeria, but it was later revealed that his father was recovering from an unknown health problem.
Despite his personal struggles and difficulties in the build-up due to a sore hamstring, Messi is an inspiration to his teammates just by being there.
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister said after the win against Algeria: “If anyone thought this group would have been better without Leo, today it became clear that Leo is the most important of them.”
Inter Miami attacker Messi didn’t even commit to playing in the North American competition until the last moment.
But realistically, no one expected him to be absent from spearheading Argentina’s title defense.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain wizard led his country to World Cup glory four years ago.
Argentina will qualify for the next round with a win over Austria, and will be guaranteed to finish top of Group J if Jordan does not beat Algeria later on Monday.
Former Germany striker Klose is followed by Brazilian great Ronaldo, who has scored 15 goals, one more than Gerd Muller and current France star Kylian Mbappé.
