Lionel Messi has once again made history, becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer during Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria. The match, played on Monday, saw Messi net both goals, further cementing his legacy in international football.
This achievement comes a decade after Messi’s brief retirement from international football in 2016. Following a defeat to Chile in the Copa America final, where he missed a penalty, Messi had stated, "For me, the national team is over. I’ve done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion." His decision to reverse that retirement has since ushered in a period of significant success for both him and his national team.
Since his return, Argentina has secured two Copa America titles. In 2022, Messi captained the team to a World Cup victory, scoring seven goals, including two in the final, marking the nation’s first World Cup win since 1986.
Record-breaking performance
Against Austria, Messi initially missed an eighth-minute penalty, but he quickly recovered. Approximately 30 minutes later, he scored his 17th World Cup goal with a low strike, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose to become the tournament’s outright top scorer. His 18th goal followed in second-half stoppage time, as he skillfully maneuvered the ball past two Austria defenders from a tight angle.
This remarkable performance occurred on the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona’s two goals in Argentina’s 2-1 quarter-final win against England. Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague noted the rapid pace of Messi’s achievements, stating, "We don’t have time to create statues for Lionel Messi or deep analysis for him in newspapers. We cannot keep pace."
Messi is participating in his sixth World Cup, and since reversing his international retirement, he has scored 13 tournament goals. Notably, 12 of his 18 goals on football’s biggest stage have come since he turned 35. Of his 18 goals, 14 have been struck with his left foot, and four have been scored from outside the box.
Balague also highlighted Messi’s current enjoyment of the game, observing, "He is enjoying it and this is the best thing. I have seen him play World Cups where he couldn’t last 90 minutes. Here at the end, he was running like anyone else, now he knows his body so well." Former France striker Olivier Giroud added, "He is not suffering physically, he is managing his healthy lifestyle well – he has to because otherwise you cannot stay playing that long. He’s unbelievable. He has been blessed that he can just play game after game."
Statistical dominance and future prospects
Messi’s statistical achievements continue to grow. He has scored all five of Argentina’s goals in this World Cup, placing him two goals clear at the top of the goalscorers list. Against Austria, he became only the third player to score in six consecutive World Cup matches, following France’s Just Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970.
He also created the most chances in the tournament’s history, with 76. In his last six World Cup matches, Messi has been directly involved in 12 goals, scoring 10 and providing two assists. Former Wales defender Ashley Williams and former England midfielder Danny Murphy both praised Messi’s intelligence and ability to find space, with Murphy calling him "the best player I’ve ever seen."
Despite his goal-scoring prowess, Messi also set an unwanted record during the match. His missed penalty against Austria made him the first player to miss a penalty at the 2026 World Cup. He now holds the record for both the most penalties taken (seven) and missed (three) in World Cup history, excluding shootouts. This also marks the first competitive match where Messi scored for Argentina after missing a penalty.
Chris Sutton, a former England striker, questioned Argentina’s reliance on their captain, asking, "They can’t just rely on Messi, or can they?" However, Tim Vickery, a South American football expert, commented on the symbolism of Messi’s record-breaking goal not being a penalty, stating, "The gods of football obviously didn’t want him to break the record with a penalty, they wanted him to break the record with a goal from open play."
With Argentina already securing a last-32 place, Messi has further opportunities to extend his records. He is currently level with Maradona on eight assists in World Cups, and his next chance to make more history will be against Jordan in the final group match on Sunday.
Source: bbc.com
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