Lionel Messi becomes all-time leading scorer in World Cup history

Lionel Messi has made history by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in the FIFA World Cup. During Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria, the captain netted two goals, bringing his total tally in the competition to 18.

This performance saw him surpass Miroslav Klose to stand alone at the top of the scoring charts. The match began with a moment of frustration for Messi, who missed an eighth-minute penalty—his third such failure in tournament history outside of shootouts. However, he quickly regrouped to break the deadlock before half-time and added a clinical second goal deep into second-half stoppage time.

The victory secured Argentina's place in the knockout stages with a game to spare, having collected six points from their opening two matches. Following the final whistle, Messi acknowledged that achieving early qualification was the squad's primary goal, allowing them to approach the final group fixture with more composure.

"What a privilege to see you make history again and again. I love you @leomessi !!!" — Antonela Roccuzzo

Messi's family, including wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their sons Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, were present in the stands in Dallas to witness the milestone. His children were seen wearing Argentina jerseys with their father's iconic number 10, adding a personal touch to the historic evening.