Messi becomes the World Cup's all-time top scorer with a double against Austria

What happened

Lionel Messi became the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history on June 22, scoring twice in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria to move to 18 goals and overtake Miroslav Klose. The Argentina captain struck from a cutback in the 38th minute and added a second late on in Dallas, according to ESPN, with the result sending his side into the knockout round from Group J.

Messi had already drawn level with Klose's mark of 16 via a hat-trick in Argentina's opening win over Algeria on June 16, and now stands two clear at the top of the list.

Why it matters

The record had belonged to Klose since 2014 and is among the sport's most prestigious individual milestones. Reaching it at what is widely expected to be his final World Cup adds weight to Messi's standing in the tournament's history, having already won it in 2022.

Beyond the number itself, the brace extended Messi's scoring run to six consecutive World Cup matches dating back to 2022, an unusual level of sustained output for a player at this stage of his career.

Context

Messi, playing his sixth World Cup, opened the tournament with a treble against Algeria before this decisive contribution against Austria, taking his career tally to 18 goals in 28 World Cup appearances. The two goals also settled a game Argentina controlled without ever fully pulling clear until the closing stages.

Argentina's place in the last 32 is secured with a group game to spare, easing the load on a squad built heavily around its 38-year-old captain.

What to watch next

With qualification assured, the immediate question is how Argentina manage Messi's minutes in their final Group J fixture against Jordan, and whether he extends both the record and his scoring streak. Top spot in the group, and the knockout path that comes with it, is the other stake. For the tournament, Messi's pursuit of further goals now becomes a storyline in its own right as the knockout rounds approach.