Lionel Messi has etched his name in history books by breaking the all-time World Cup goal-scoring record. The Argentine legend achieved this feat with two goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria in Dallas.
The 38-year-old Messi has consistently proved himself to be a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. With 18 goals in total, he has surpassed the previous record held by Miroslav Klose.
Messi's first goal came in the first half, taking him to 17 goals in 28 World Cup appearances, one clear of legendary German forward Miroslav Klose. He then added a second in stoppage time, at the end of a counter-attack that he had orchestrated himself.
Messi's goals have been scored in five different World Cups, beginning with a strike against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. Here are all 18 of his World Cup goals:
1. Group stage: Perhaps Messi's least consequential World Cup goal. His penalty gave Argentina the lead against Saudi Arabia in Qatar, but the South Americans went on to suffer a surprise defeat. 2. Quarter-final: In a dramatic and bad-tempered quarter-final against the Netherlands, Messi created Argentina's first goal by assisting Nauel Molina, and then scored his team's second from the penalty spot. 3. Group stage: Messi was the quickest to react when the ball bounced around Nigeria's penalty area. Angel Di Maria's low shot had struck a post, and Messi raced on to the rebound before lashing it into the roof of the net from close range. 4. Semi-final: In another sparkling performance, Messi struck from the spot after Julián Alvarez had been fouled by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. 5. Group stage: Messi's second goal of Argentina's opening game of the 2026 World Cup. This was a simple finish, converted calmly with his right foot after Alexis Mac Allister's shot from distance had been spilt. 6. Final: Messi's long pursuit of World Cup glory came to a joyful end in the 2022 final against France. His 23rd-minute penalty gave Argentina the lead and was surely the most high-pressure spot kick he had ever taken. 7. Final: After the brilliance of Kylian Mbappe dragged the World Cup final into extra time, Messi struck again in the 108th minute of the match. This was a huge goal in the biggest game of his life, but it was essentially a scruffy rebound after France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had failed to hold on to Lautaro Martinez's shot. 8. Group stage: In the final moments of the group game against Austria, Messi charged down the right wing to create a chance for Alvarez. The ball then came his way in the penalty area. At the second time of asking, he drilled it through the bodies and into the net. 9. Group stage: Messi completed his first World Cup hat-trick with a powerful, low shot from the edge of the penalty area against Algeria. It was yet another of those curling efforts that started outside the post but bent on target at the final moment. 10. Group stage: At 38 years old, Messi became the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer when he side-footed Argentina into the lead against Austria. Messi had lurked outside the box as Argentina attacked, but this gave him the space to run on to the ball when it was cut back by Facundo Medina. He was helped by a lovely dummy by Thiago Almada. 11. Group stage: Algeria were in trouble from the moment Messi received possession between their lines, in the centre of the pitch. Striding forward into space, Messi powered his finish into the top corner via a touch from goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of France legend Zinedine. 12. Group stage: On his World Cup debut at the age of 18, Messi raced behind the Serbian defence and fired home a low finish. The build-up was lovely, as three iconic Argentina players combined to set him up. Juan Roman Riquelme fired the ball into Carlos Tevez, who exchanged passes with Hernan Crespo before assisting Messi. 13. Round of 16: Messi's first goal in the World Cup knockout stages was a typically composed strike, caressed low into the far corner with his left foot after some characteristic close control. It helped Argentina to a narrow victory over Australia. 14. Group stage: A fabulous free-kick for his second goal of the game, typical of Messi. From the right side of the pitch, he curled the ball over Nigeria's wall with such accuracy that the goalkeeper did not even dive. 15. Group stage: With the pressure on after a shock defeat by Saudi Arabia in their opening game, Messi once again produced the moment of magic that Argentina needed. He received possession on the edge of the penalty box and drilled a low effort across goal, into the bottom corner. 16. Group stage: Argentina had struggled badly to break down a stubborn Iranian defence, but Messi made the difference right at the end of the game. In stoppage time, he received the ball on the edge of the box, shifted it onto his left foot and curled a fabulous strike into the corner from range. 17. Group stage: Messi drove forward from the base of midfield, swapped passes with Gonzalo Higuain and produced a trademark curling finish, in off a post, after skipping beyond two Bosnia defenders on the edge of the box. The dribble was so effective that the two Bosnia players ended up