Once again, Lionel Messi has made history in this 2026 World Cup, since with two goals scored against Austria this June 22 He has become the top scorer in the history of this competition.
With a score in the 38th minute of the game, Lionel Messi He managed to surpass the German Miroslav Klose, who maintained first place with 16 goals.
Almost 12 years after the German’s last score in the world championships, Messi has surpassed that figure and has further expanded his legend.
Messi’s history in the World Cup It began in Germany 2006, where he made his official debut with the Argentina national team. Sixteen years later, at the World Cup in Qatar, The Argentine fulfilled his greatest dream: Become world champion after beating France in a tough penalty shootout.
Currently, Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup and has figures that qualify him as one of the best players in the history of this sport. He has accumulated 28 matches with the senior team, according to FIFA.
Furthermore, Messi is the only player who has registered at least one assist in five World Cup competitions.
These are the 17 goals that Lionel Messi has scored in World Cup competitions:
Germany 2006: Argentina 6 – Serbia and Montenegro 0
It was in his first World Cup, on his debut and at only 18 years old when Messi entered the field of play in the absence of 16 minutes left and he scored Argentina’s sixth goal after a great pass from Carlos Tévez.
Brazil 2014: Argentina 2 – Bosnia and Herzegovina 1
Eight years had to pass for Messi to score again in the World Cup, this time, and at 27 years old, he made his classic play by taking several players after a pass from Gonzalo Higuaín.
Brazil 20214: Argentina 1- Iran 0
Within the group stage, Lionel Messi saved an Argentina that could not score after Iran’s defensive strength. In the 90th minute, the Argentine took a strong left foot shot to take the three points.
Brazil 2014: Argentina 3 -Nigeria 2
Messi was decisive in all the matches in the group stage of that World Cup, and in the last match when he took a tremendous shot to the post after an action by Ángel Di María that almost ended in a score.
Russia 2018: Argentina 2 – Nigeria 1
Lionel Messi made his debut in the 2018 World Cup in the group stage. After a great pass from Éver Banega, The Argentine controlled the ball incredibly and beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one match.
Qatar 2022: Saudi Arabia 2 – Argentina 1
Messi’s first score came in a bitter defeat against Saudi Arabia. Ten minutes into the match, the Argentine He took a penalty without problems after a foul on Leandro Paredes in the area.
Qatar 2022: Argentina 2 – Mexico 0
In a match where Argentina was betting on its participation in the World Cup, Messi came to the rescue after receiving a pass from Di María He made a low shot next to the post of the Mexican goal.
Qatar 2022: Argentina 2 – Australia 1
In the round of 16 of the World Cup Messi picked up the ball and adjusted a great shot against the post after a pass from Nicolás Otamendi.
Qatar 2022: Argentina 2(4) – Netherlands 2(3)
In an exciting quarter-final duel that ended in a penalty shootout, Messi previously made it 2-0 in the maximum penalty after a foul by Denzel Dumfries on Acuña.
Qatar 2022: Argentina 3 – Croatia 0
In a semifinal match where the albiceleste demonstrated its superiority against Croatia and Messi was not far behind. Criminal again, Messi defined calmly after a foul inside the area on Julián Álvarez.
Qatar 2022: Argentina 3(4) – France 3(2)
In the grand finale of the World Cup, Messi appeared again to lead his team to victory. Again from a penalty, Messi put Argentina ahead After Dembelé knocked down Di María inside the area.
That final had Messi twice, since in extra time and after a rebound from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, the Argentine He scored again and resurrected Argentina in a dizzying match.
After so many goals, Messi achieved his long-awaited dream in the 2022 World Cup: to be world champion.
USA, Mexico and Canada 2026: Argentina 3 – Algeria 0
In this new edition of the World Cup Messi continues to expand his story by scoring his first hatrick in the history of international competition.
USA, Mexico and Canada 2026: Argentina 2 – Austria 0
And now, this June 22, Messi made history not only by scoring a double against Austria, but becoming the top scorer in World Cup history.