Messi breaks Klose's World Cup goal record in Argentina's win over Austria

Lionel Messi celebrated his upcoming 39th birthday by shattering Miroslav Klose's record for the most goals in World Cup history. The Argentine superstar netted his 17th career World Cup goal in the 38th minute of Argentina's match against Austria, surpassing the previous record of 16 held by the German legend. This historic achievement occurred on the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona's iconic two goals in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final. The match itself was crucial for Argentina's progression in the 2026 tournament. Earlier in the game, Messi had a chance to set the new record from the penalty spot in the ninth minute after a VAR review awarded Argentina a penalty for a foul on Lautaro Martínez. However, Messi missed the target, sending the ball wide of the post. This marked his third missed penalty in World Cup history. Despite the setback, Messi remained focused and found the net later in the first half with a precise strike from distance, securing a 1-0 lead for Argentina and etching his name in the record books. Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni had previously stated that his team had shed the burden of expectation. "Three and a half years have passed, and my players still want to develop. They continue to show a high level of commitment; there is always room for improvement," he remarked before the match. Austrian coach Ralf Rangnick acknowledged the challenge, noting that his team would play against all odds, hoping to cause an upset. However, Argentina's strong performance, capped by Messi's record-breaking goal and a second strike in added time, ultimately proved too much for the Austrian side.

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Everyone expected this to be the moment Messi would make history, but the Argentinian didn't even hit the target (the ball went wide of the post).