Lionel Messi delivered another landmark performance that added to his already staggering Messi World Cup records. Argentina beat Austria 2-0 at Dallas Stadium to seal qualification for the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The defending champions controlled the match for long stretches and secured their second straight win with a commanding display. Argentina created several clear chances in the first half, even missing a penalty before Messi finally opened the scoring in the 38th minute.

That goal proved historic, as the Argentina captain moved past Germany’s Miroslav Klose to become the leading goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history. Therefore, this moment ranked among the most significant of Messi’s tournament career. Messi had entered the match level with Klose on 16 goals, but his opener took him to 17. He then added another in stoppage time to raise his tally to 18 goals in 28 World Cup appearances.

Most Goals in FIFA World Cup History

Messi had already netted a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening World Cup 2026 match against Algeria. Additionally, his latest brace against Austria further strengthened his remarkable record on football’s biggest stage. The 38-year-old’s consistency across multiple tournaments is simply extraordinary.

The Argentina veteran also reached another major milestone by scoring in six consecutive World Cup matches. With that feat, he joined France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho. Moreover, he became the first Argentine player ever to score in six straight games in the competition. This distinction carries special weight for a player representing his nation.

Consecutive Scoring Matches in FIFA World Cup History

Messi’s night of Messi World Cup records did not end there. He also extended his achievements for the most World Cup matches played by any individual. Furthermore, he now holds the most World Cup wins by a player with 18. Finally, he extended the most minutes played in tournament history with 2,489 minutes on the pitch across all his appearances.