Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi has become the player with the most goals in the Football World Cup. While playing in the group clash against Austria, Messi first broke Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s (16 goals) record by scoring his 17th goal, and then scored one more goal at the end of the match the goal tally to 18.
However, he also missed a penalty in the 9th minute, becoming the first player in WC history to miss 3 games.
The Argentine legend made history by scoring a field goal in the 39th minute at Dallas Stadium. After that, in injury time (95th minute), he scored a second goal to secure a 2-0 victory for his team. With this win, defending champions Argentina also secured a spot in the Round of-32.
The 38-year-old Messi had scored a hat-trick against Algeria in the previous match. He now has the most goals, 5, in the current tournament. After Messi, Germany’s Deniz Undav is next with 3 goals.
Lionel Messi’s 5 photos after reaching the historic landmark
Messi’s celebration after scoring a goal. (Credits: Reuters)
Messi celebrating with a teammate. (Credits: Reuters)
Messi celebrated by gesturing towards the fans in this manner. (Credits: Reuters)
Messi scored with this shot. (Credits: Reuters)
Messi had a chance to set a record in the ninth minute itself. Argentina got a penalty after Austrian defenders fouled Lautaro Martinez, but Messi shot wide of the post. With this, he also became the first player in World Cup history to miss the most penalties (three). Previously, Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan had missed two penalties.
After missing the penalty, Messi got another chance in the 18th minute, but Austrian defenders blocked the shot. Austria’s goalkeeper David Alaba also made a brilliant save near the goal line on one occasion.
Messi after missing the penalty. (Credits: Reuters)
Argentine legend shattered Klose’s record in 39th minute
In the 39th minute, Argentina’s Thiago Almada passed to Facundo Medina on the left. Medina delivered the ball to Messi, who was standing at the edge of the box, and the captain scored with a brilliant left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
This was Messi’s 17th goal in the World Cup, with which he surpassed Miroslav Klose to claim the record for most goals.
Shakira records her attendance in the stands
As Lionel Messi scripted history on the field, Colombian singer-songwriter and dancer Shakira also bore witness to the moment when the record for most FIFA World Cup goals was breached. It’s worth noting that Shakira kicked off the opening ceremony in Mexico with her performance.
Shakira in stands during Argentina vs Austria match (Credits: X)
Second Goal in Injury Time
In the 95th minute of the match, Argentina launched a counter-attack. Striker Julian Alvarez’s shot was saved, but on the rebound, Messi put the ball into the goal between two defenders. This goal, scored in the 90+5th minute, was his second of the match and fifth of the tournament.
Messi after scoring the second goal.(Credits: Reuters)
Goals in 6 consecutive World Cup matches
Messi has now become the third player in the world to score in 6 consecutive World Cup matches. He equalled the record of France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.
Scored a hat-trick against Algeria
Five days ago, Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory against Algeria. He scored goals in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes. This was the first hat-trick of his career in the World Cup.
With this, he became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup. He broke the record of Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick at the age of 33 in the 2018 World Cup. Messi now has 11 international hat-tricks to his name.
Messi with his father Jorge Messi.
Played the 1st FIFA WC 2026 game amid father’s illness
After scoring the first goal against Algeria, Messi became emotional, and tears welled up in his eyes. Later, the family revealed that his father, Jorge Messi, was undergoing treatment for an unknown illness. After the match, Messi had said that he was going through some difficult days off the field.
Kylian Mbappé scores brace in his 100th int’l match for France
Playing his 100th international game for the French national football team, Kylian Mbappé scored two goals in France’s 3-0 win over Iraq. Mbappé, while playing in his third World Cup, scored in the 14th minute against Iraq, giving Les Bleus a 1-0 lead in the record game.
After a weather delay that extended the halftime break to more than two hours, Mbappé found the net again in the 54th minute to move into a tie with Miroslav Klose of Germany, who had the goals record before this high-scoring World Cup began.
Kylian Mbappé in action during the France vs Iraq match (Credits: Reuters)
Match delayed for 130 minutes due to bad weather
The France vs Iraq match was delayed by 130 minutes after the first half due to thunderstorms and bad weather in Philadelphia.
Mbappé scored immediately after the match resumed to make it 2-0 against Iraq. It was his fourth goal of this World Cup and 16th overall since he started playing in the tournament. Ousmane Dembele scored France’s third goal a few minutes later to almost book a spot in the knockout stage.
Haaland double strike takes Norway to knockouts
Norway striker Erling Haaland continued his remarkable run at the FIFA World Cup 2026, writing history with another brace against Senegal to join an elite list of football greats and rewrite his country’s record books.
Erling Haaland fighting for ball possesson in game vs Senegal (Credits: Reuters)
Haaland became only the sixth player in FIFA World Cup history to score multiple goals in each of his first two appearances at the tournament. Marcus Pedersen had given Norway the lead late in the first half before Haaland struck twice after the break. Senegal mounted a spirited fightback through Ismaila Sarr, who scored both goals for his side, but Norway held on to claim a crucial victory.
