Lionel Messi established himself as the all-time leading goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history, netting his 17th goal against Austria on June 22, 2026. In the 38th minute, Messi received a pass behind the Austrian defense and scored, leading Argentina to a 1-0 victory.
Previously, German striker Miroslav Klose held the record. Messi, however, missed a penalty kick earlier in the match. His latest achievement comes during a challenging personal time, as his father, Jorge Messi, is currently under medical observation due to health issues. The Messi family requested privacy during this period.
Messi expressed gratitude towards his teammates, noting emotional moments following his first goal in a recent match against Algeria. "Those feelings were because of that," he said, referring to personal struggles beyond soccer.