World Cup
Lionel Messi sets World Cup scoring record with 17th goal
Lionel Messi sealed his place as the all‑time FIFA World Cup leading scorer on 22 June 2026, netting his 17th tournament goal for Argentina against Austria. The strike surpassed Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who had held the record with 16 goals since the 2014 edition.
Early in the match Messi missed a penalty and then failed to convert a close‑range chance, surprising the crowd. The missed opportunities added tension to the tightly contested group game.
Moments later Messi recovered, sliding the ball home from the edge of the box to restore Argentina’s lead. The goal ignited a stadium roar as the Argentine side celebrated the record‑breaking moment.
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Miroslav Klose’s previous benchmark of 16 World Cup goals was set during the 2014 tournament. His tally had stood for twelve years before Messi’s 17th eclipsed it. The Argentine captain, a Barcelona legend, reached 17 goals in 28 World Cup appearances at 38 years old. His achievement joins a resume that already includes leading Argentina to World Cup glory. Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, France captain, trails with 14 goals and could challenge the record in future editions. Argentina will look to extend the advantage as the tournament progresses. The accompanying image was captured by photographer Stacy Revere for Getty Images. It shows Messi celebrating after the decisive strike against Austria.