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Messi eyes more World Cup records after equalling Klose's goal tally

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's 2026 World Cup opener, equaling Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals.
  • Messi also matched Cafu's record of 16 World Cup wins and is tied with Rivelino for most goals scored from outside the penalty area.
  • He has opportunities to break these records in upcoming matches against Austria.

Lionel Messi has reached a new milestone in the 2026 World Cup, scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's opening match against Algeria. This performance brought his World Cup goal tally to 16, drawing him level with German legend Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in the tournament.

Beyond the goal-scoring record, Messi's victory also marked his 16th win in the World Cup, tying him with former Brazilian defender Cafu for second place in all-time wins. Klose also holds the record for the most World Cup victories. Messi could potentially surpass Klose's win record if Argentina defeats Austria in their next game.

Furthermore, Messi's prowess from distance was highlighted, with five of his 16 World Cup goals scored from outside the penalty area. This places him in a tie with Brazilian great Rivelino for the historical lead in this category. Another long-range goal against Austria would set a new record.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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