Video: Messi's goal makes him World Cup's all-time top scorer
Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Lionel Messi scored his 17th World Cup goal against Austria, surpassing Miroslav Klose to become the all-time leading scorer in the tournament.
- Messi had missed an earlier penalty and another significant chance in the match.
- The Argentinian star now holds the record alone, with Klose in second place.
Lionel Messi has etched his name further into football history by becoming the all-time leading scorer in the World Cup. The Argentinian superstar netted his 17th goal in the tournament during a match against Austria, breaking the previous record held by Germany's Miroslav Klose.
Messi achieved this milestone in the 39th minute of the game, marking his 17th goal in the final phase of the competition. This achievement places him one goal ahead of Klose, who had accumulated 16 goals throughout his World Cup career. Messi had previously missed an opportunity to score earlier in the match, including a penalty in the 9th minute and another significant chance shortly after.
Despite the earlier misses, Messi's determination saw him break the record, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players in World Cup history. The list of top scorers now sees Messi at the summit, followed by Klose, Brazil's Ronaldo (15 goals), Gerd Mรผller (14 goals), and Kylian Mbappรฉ (14 goals), among others.
This record adds another glittering achievement to Messi's already illustrious career, further cementing his legacy in the sport. The goal against Austria not only propelled him past Klose but also underscored his enduring impact on the global stage.
Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.