WASHINGTON – Lionel Messi has etched his name further into football history after becoming the leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history, reaching 18 goals during Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday.
Despite missing a penalty early in the match, the Argentine star recovered to break the deadlock in the 38th minute with a composed finish. He later added a second goal deep into stoppage time (90+5), confirming the win and setting a new tournament scoring record.
The brace extended Messi’s scoring streak to six straight World Cup games, placing him alongside legends Just Fontaine of France and Jairzinho of Brazil in that category.
Messi had previously drawn level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose at 16 goals following a hat trick against Algeria. His performance against Austria now moves him clear as the outright top scorer in World Cup history.
The match also marked his 28th World Cup appearance across six tournaments, further extending his record for most appearances on football’s biggest stage.
Sourced online/elamigo/xf
