Lionel Messi officially became the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history by netting his 17th tournament goal, overtaking Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
This historic milestone happened on June 22, 2026, during Argentina’s match against Austria. Before the game, Messi was tied with Klose at 16 World Cup goals.
Although Messi missed a penalty and a close-range chance early in the match, the 38-year-old forward quickly recovered and scored a decisive goal from the edge of the box, thrilling fans in the stadium.
Klose’s longstanding record of 16 goals was set at the 2014 World Cup. Now, with 17 goals in 28 games, Messi stands alone as the top scorer in World Cup history.
This record highlights an unmatched achievement in Messi’s career, further cementing his status among football’s all-time greats. Argentina continues to advance in the 2026 tournament, offering Messi opportunities to extend his record.
Currently, France captain Kylian Mbappe is close behind with 14 World Cup goals.
