1 of 5 | Argentina’s Lionel Messi (L) celebrates with teammate Enzo Fernandez after scoring a goal against Austria at the 2026 World Cup on Monday in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
Argentina’s Lionel Messi scored twice against Austrian goalie Alexander Schlager on Monday to set a record for the most goals ever scored by a man or woman at the World Cup with 18.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner found the net in the 38th minute and completed his brace in stoppage time of the 2-0 Group J victory in Arlington, Texas.
With his first goal, Messi became the top scorer in the history of the men’s World Cup, passing Germany’s Miroslov Klose. With his second goal, he passed Brazil’s Marta for the overall World Cup goals mark. Marta owns the women’s goals record, with 17.
Messi, who tied Klose’s previous record total with a hat trick in Argentina’s win Tuesday over Algeria, scored five times through his first two matches at the 2026 tournament.
Messi started the first-blood scoring sequence when he spotted midfielder Thaigo Almada and sent him a pass near midfield. Almada dribbled about 25 yards ahead as Messi jogged up the middle of the field deeper into Austrian territory.
Almada slid a pass to his left, finding Facundo Medina outside the box. The Argentinian left back used his first touch to smack a pass back right. Almada allowed the ball to roll through his legs, just as Messi entered the box. Messi finished the play with a left footed blast between Schlager’s gloved right hand and the near post.
He celebrated the score by pumping his right fist toward the crowd.
Messi struck again in the 94th minute. He brought in a pass at midfield and blazed up the right flank. Messi chipped a pass ahead for forward Julian Alvarez, who had an initial shot blocked by Schlager.
The ball rebounded to midfielder Leandro Paredes, who found Messi inside the middle of the box. Messi dribbled in front of a crowd of defenders before ripping an initial shot, which was blocked. He followed up the shot with a sliding attempt, which found the right side of the net.
With 18 total World Cup scores, Messi is four goals ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappe on the World Cup’s all-time scoring list.
Mbappe’s two goals are tied for the fourth-most at the 2026 World Cup. Canada’s Jonathan David and Germany’s Deniz Undav are tied for second, with three goals apiece.
Mbappe and No. 2 France will face No. 60 Iraq in a Group I match at 5 p.m. EDT Monday in Philadelphia.
Erling Haaland, who scored two goals in his first World Cup match, will join the No. 7 Netherlands for another Group I match against No. 17 Senegal at 8 p.m. Monday in East Rutherford, N.J.
No. 68 Jordan and No. 29 Algeria, who share Group J, will face off in Monday’s nightcap at 11 p.m. in Santa Clara, Calif.
The top-ranked Argentinians outshot the Austrians 11-6, with five on target. They will take on Jordan in their Group J finale at 10 p.m. Saturday in Arlington.
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Cristiano Ronaldo – PortugalCristiano Ronaldo of Portugal looks on during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match at Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on December 06, 2022. Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
