Lionel Messi World Cup goals record was secured today, as history was made in front of 70,000 fans. The Argentina captain broke Miroslav Klose’s all-time record on Monday, scoring twice in a 2-0 win over Austria at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to move clear at the top of the charts on 18 goals. At 38 years and 363 days, two days short of his 39th birthday, Messi has set a mark that may stand for a generation.
The brace took him past the figure of 16 he had shared with Klose since his hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opener six days earlier. Messi has now scored all five of his side’s goals at the tournament, and his side have sealed top spot in Group J and a place in the round of 32.
How Messi broke the World Cup record
The afternoon did not start smoothly. Messi had the chance to claim the outright record from the penalty spot in the ninth minute after Lautaro Martinez was fouled, but a stuttered run-up sent his effort wide of the bottom-right corner. He made amends in the 38th minute, sweeping a left-footed finish into the net after a cutback, before adding a second deep in stoppage time, forcing the ball through a crowd of defenders after the goalkeeper had parried his first attempt.
Four of Messi’s 18 World Cup goals have been penalties. The record-breaking strike was anything but: a late run into the box and a low finish into the near corner, the kind of goal that has defined his career. The result extended Argentina’s World Cup winning run to eight matches since their shock 2022 opening defeat to Saudi Arabia.
Most World Cup goals of all time: the full ranking
Messi now sits three clear of Klose and five clear of Brazil’s Ronaldo. Here is how the all-time men’s leaderboard looks after the win over Austria. For the wider picture you can browse our World Cup records and all-time stats.
| # | Player | Nation | Goals | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi (active) | Argentina | 18 | 2006 to 2026 |
| 2 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 | 2002 to 2014 |
| 3 | Ronaldo | Brazil | 15 | 1998 to 2006 |
| 4 | Gerd Muller | West Germany | 14 | 1970 to 1974 |
| 4 | Kylian Mbappe (active) | France | 14 | 2018 to 2026 |
| 6 | Just Fontaine | France | 13 | 1958 |
| 7 | Pele | Brazil | 12 | 1958 to 1970 |
| 8 | Sandor Kocsis | Hungary | 11 | 1954 |
| 8 | Jurgen Klinsmann | Germany | 11 | 1990 to 1998 |
| 10 | Rahn, Cubillas, Lato, Lineker, Batistuta, T. Muller | Various | 10 | 1954 to 2014 |
For more on the legends near the top of this list, see our ranking of the top 10 all-time World Cup goalscorers, and our guide to the greatest World Cup finals many of them lit up.
Can anyone catch Messi?
The most realistic challenger is Kylian Mbappe. The France captain scored twice against Senegal in his opening match to reach 14, level with Gerd Muller and just behind Ronaldo, and he plays Iraq later on Monday. At 27, Mbappe has the age and the goal rate to threaten Messi’s mark over this tournament and the next, though three goals is a sizeable gap to close in a single edition. Cristiano Ronaldo, by contrast, arrives at his sixth World Cup on eight goals, all scored in the group stage.
A clutch of records in one afternoon
The 18th goal carried Messi past more than just Klose. He has now:
- become the first player, man or woman, to reach 18 World Cup goals, surpassing women’s record holder Marta on 17;
- scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, the first to manage that since Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970 and only the third ever after France’s Just Fontaine in 1958;
- extended his own record for most World Cup appearances, with Austria his 28th match;
- become the only player to feature in six different editions of the men’s World Cup.
His first World Cup goal came against Serbia and Montenegro on 16 June 2006, aged 18. His Algeria hat-trick this month arrived 20 years to the day later. Argentina, the reigning champions, are chasing back-to-back titles, a feat last achieved by Brazil in 1962. You can revisit every previous showpiece on our record of every World Cup final, and the full list of World Cup winners.
Frequently asked questions
- Who has scored the most World Cup goals of all time?
- Lionel Messi, with 18 goals across six tournaments from 2006 to 2026. He broke Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 with a brace against Austria on 22 June 2026.
- When did Messi break the World Cup goalscoring record?
- On 22 June 2026, in Argentina’s 2-0 group-stage win over Austria at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. His first goal took him to 17 and his second to 18.
- How many World Cup goals did Miroslav Klose score?
- Klose scored 16 goals for Germany between 2002 and 2014, a record that stood until Messi surpassed it in 2026.
- Can anyone overtake Messi at the 2026 World Cup?
- Kylian Mbappe is the closest active challenger on 14 goals, three behind Messi. He would need a deep tournament run to close the gap in a single edition.
- How many of Messi’s World Cup goals are penalties?
- Four of his 18 World Cup goals have been scored from the penalty spot.