Lionel Messi breaks all-time World Cup scoring record with strike against Austria | OneFootball

Little magician adds yet another line to his already dazzling resume

Lionel Messi has become the top goalscorer in World Cup history after he put Argentina 1-0 up against Austria on Tuesday.

The legendary winger has now scored 17 goals across four World Cups, trumping Miroslav Klose’s tally of 16.

He scored a hat-trick against Algeria last week to move neck-and-neck with the German and missed an opportunity to take top spot early on against Austria as he shot wide from a penalty.

But the 38-year-old, who turns 39 next week, would not have to wait much longer to clinch the record, and scored the opener shortly before the break to trigger jubilant celebrations on the pitch and in the stands.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina team-mates celebrate his latest record...

...while fans get the party started in the stands

Getty

The goal came in the 39th minute as Facundo Medina was played into space on the left flank and cut the ball back to Messi on the edge of the box, from where he stroked a deft finish into the bottom right corner, catching Alexander Schlager wrong-footed.

This latest goal caps what has been a remarkable run of World Cup form for Messi. It is his 17th goal contribution in his last ten appearances at the finals, dating back to 2018.

Kylian Mbappe had also been in the running to pip Klose’s record, and could still do so as France face Iraq later on Monday. He heads into that match having scored 14 World Cup goals, a tally boosted by his brace against Senegal last week.

He will now require a hat-trick against the minnows Iraq, though, if he is to get a leg up over the new bar, which Messi has once again raised.