Lionel Messi breaks World Cup scoring record with his 17th goal for Argentina in win against Austria

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Lionel Messi set a World Cup record with his 17th and 18th goals, and defending champions Argentina advanced to the knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over Austria.

Messi had a golden opportunity to break the record in the ninth minute, but went wide to the right on a penalty kick. Almost 30 minutes later, Messi caught Alexander Schlager leaning the wrong way after Thiago Almada let Facuno Medina's pass go by him directly onto Messi's left foot.

Messi scored again in injury time to move two ahead of Germany striker Miroslav Klose.

The record goal for a 1-0 lead came in the 38th minute and two days before Messi’s 39th birthday, and amid the concern of an ailing father back at home. It was the sixth consecutive World Cup game in which Messi has scored.

Messi had equalled Klose for the most goals in the World Cup at 16 with his first hat trick at the tournament in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in the Group J opener.

Messi's hat trick in the previous game, in his 200th international appearance, came 20 years to the date of his World Cup debut, when he also scored. He is playing in sixth World Cup, and this was his FIFA-record 28th match in the tournament.

Klose played in 24 World Cup matches for Germany, which wrapped up his fourth tournament by winning the 2014 final 1-0 in extra time over Messi and Argentina.

Messi’s father has been undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness, the family said in a statement last week while not providing any specifics.

The 68-year-old Jorge Messi has played a key role in his third son’s career, acting as his agent and managing his business affairs off the field.

Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion after scoring his first goal against Algeria, and said after that match his tears came following some tough days not related to football.