Lionel Messi has rewritten football history, breaking Miroslav Klose's long-standing all-time World Cup scoring record with two goals against Austria to move to 18 goals at the tournament.
The Argentine captain, competing at a record-equalling sixth World Cup at the age of 38, had already matched Klose's 16-goal benchmark with a hat-trick in Argentina's opening group game against Algeria.
On Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, he went beyond it, and beyond every player who has ever pulled on a shirt at a World Cup.
His first goal was a thing of beauty: a composed left-footed finish in the 39th minute that put Argentina ahead and gave the watching world a reminder that even at 38, Messi remains capable of scoring goals.
His second arrived deep in second-half injury time, born from a trademark Argentine counter-attack.
Messi played Julian Alvarez through on goal; Alvarez's shot was blocked, but Messi was exactly where he needed to be, arriving onto the rebound to stroke it home and confirm his place at the very top of the all-time charts.
It was not, however, a flawless evening. Inside the first ten minutes, Messi missed a penalty, skewing his attempt wide of the right-hand post.
He then spurned a handful of other chances before the goals finally came.
The brace takes Messi to five goals in this 2026 World Cup alone, and to 18 in total across his six tournaments, two clear of Klose, the German forward who set the previous record with his final World Cup goal against Brazil in that astonishing 7-1 semi-final victory in 2014.
A record that stood for 12 years has now been broken by the one man most football lovers always suspected would eventually come for it.
Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, have secured their place in the round of 32 with the victory over Austria, meaning Messi is guaranteed at least one more game to extend his lead at the top of the standings.
They face Jordan next on Sunday, June 28, in their final Group J fixture.
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