Messi breaks World Cup scoring record with brace against Austria

Lionel Messi has once again proven his status as one of football's greatest players, scoring twice against Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. These goals propelled him past Miroslav Klose of Germany, who previously held the record with 16 World Cup goals. Messi now stands alone at the top with 18 career World Cup goals.

The match, held at Dallas Stadium in Texas, saw Messi net goals in the 38th minute and in stoppage time of the second half. This performance came after a missed penalty in the 9th minute, a rare misstep for the superstar. However, he quickly recovered, demonstrating his determination and skill to not only equalize but also secure a decisive second goal.

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It's in his DNA to always try to be better than anyone else. At our age, you have to pay special attention to your lifestyle, including sleep, diet, and body management, to play at a high level.

With these two goals, Messi has now scored 18 goals across six World Cup tournaments, adding to his impressive tally from previous competitions. He scored one goal in 2006, none in 2010, four in 2014, one in 2018, and seven in 2022. His current tournament performance, with five goals already, positions him as a strong contender for the Golden Boot.

Beyond his scoring record, Messi also set a new benchmark for total World Cup attacking contributions, accumulating 24 points (16 goals and 8 assists). This figure surpasses Pelé's record of 21 combined points. The article also includes commentary from former players like Olivier Giroud, who highlighted Messi's dedication to maintaining a high level of play at his age, and Wayne Rooney, who discussed the dynamic rivalry between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as a driving force for both athletes.

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Competitors like Cristiano Ronaldo, who didn't score in the first game against DR Congo, are still expected to be top scorers at 41. That attitude from Ronaldo is part of his greatness. Both Ronaldo and Messi have grown by challenging each other.