Two goals from the Argentine Lionel Messi this Monday sealed the 2-0 victory for his team over Austria, a result with which the Albiceleste captain became the all-time top scorer of the World Cupreaching 18 points, two more than the German Miroslav Klose.
The triumph leaves Argentina with one foot in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, although it has not yet secured its mathematical classification due to a possible combination of results in Group J. The Albiceleste has six points, while Austria remains with three, waiting for what happens in the duel between Jordan and Algeria and on the last day.
After the feat, Klose, legend of the German national team, congratulated Messi for surpassing his historical mark and did not hesitate to praise him as the best footballer of all time.
“Lionel Messi is for me the best footballer of all time! Congratulations, champion!” he declared to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Klose held the scoring record until the start of this World Cup. On the first day, Messi reached it with a hat trick against Algeria, with which he reached 16 goals. This Monday, with his double against Austria, the Argentine remained alone at the top of the historical ranking.
The former German striker himself had already anticipated days ago that his record would be surpassed during the tournament. “And it’s perfectly fine. The record was going to be broken sooner or later, and I’m glad Messi did it. I’m a big admirer of his, I always have been,” said Klose, who reiterated that the Argentine attacker is “a genius.”
With his new brand, Messi not only expands his legacy at the World Cups, but continues to consolidate his place among the greatest legends of football.