Lionel Messi becomes all-time World Cup top scorer
Lionel Messi has written another chapter in his remarkable World Cup story after overtaking Miroslav Klose to become the outright leading goalscorer in the tournament’s history, reports BritPanorama.
The Argentina captain reached 17 World Cup goals on Monday night by scoring against Austria, surpassing Klose’s long-standing tally of 16, which had remained unbroken since the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
Messi’s milestone moment arrived in the 38th minute after he had earlier squandered an opportunity to make history from the penalty spot. After Lautaro Martinez was fouled inside the area, Messi’s spot-kick drifted wide, but he quickly redeemed himself with a trademark finish.
Collecting the ball just inside the penalty box, Messi steadied himself before guiding a composed side-footed shot beyond the goalkeeper and into the corner of the net, prompting jubilant celebrations from Argentina supporters. This strike continued an astonishing journey that began two decades ago in Germany when Messi scored his first World Cup goal as an 18-year-old.
His first World Cup goal came in Argentina’s overwhelming 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. Subsequently, Messi’s career has seen highs and lows at the World Cup, including a frustrating exit at the quarter-finals in 2010 and a subsequent return to prominence in Brazil 2014, where Argentina reached the final, only to lose to Germany.
In total, Messi’s World Cup journey has included memorable moments such as a standout performance in 2014 with four goals in the group stage. Despite a relatively quiet outing during the 2018 tournament in Russia, where he scored just once, he thrilled millions in Qatar in 2022, leading Argentina to victory with seven goals over the course of the tournament.
Argentina entered the match against Austria as overwhelming favourites to secure their second win in Group J, but faced a well-drilled side that forced them to work hard for their breakthrough. As Messi stands alone atop the World Cup scoring charts, the conversation shifts from whether he can break records to how many more he can set before eventually concluding his illustrious international career.
In a sport where legends are defined by moments, Messi’s journey remains a testament to a player who continues to defy age and expectation, capturing the public’s imagination while redefining what it means to be a football icon.
