Lionel Messi sets World Cup goal-scoring record vs Austria

Lionel Messi further separated himself from nan remainder of soccer history connected Monday arsenic he group a grounds for nan astir goals each clip successful nan FIFA World Cup.

Messi was charging down nan section down Argentina’s attack. The Austrian defense seemed to beryllium excessively focused connected nan shot and mislaid way of Messi arsenic he filtered successful down them. Messi sewage nan walk and fired nan changeable past nan goalkeeper successful nan 38th infinitesimal and scored.

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Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his team's first extremity against Austria during nan World Cup Group J lucifer successful Arlington, Texas, connected June 22, 2026. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

He has 17 World Cup goals successful his career, passing Germany’s Miroslav Klose for nan astir each time. He whitethorn person had nan grounds sooner. Messi received a punishment footwear effort astir nan 8th infinitesimal of nan match. However, changeable was wide to nan right.

Messi’s extremity against Austria put Argentina up 1-0.

The extremity comes amid a reliable week for Messi and his family. Jorge Messi was group to acquisition aesculapian curen for an undisclosed unwellness past week. Messi’s family asked for "humanity" from nan media.

Argentina's Lionel Messi watches nan shot during nan World Cup Group J shot lucifer against Austria successful Arlington, Texas, adjacent Dallas, connected June 22, 2026. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)

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"Jorge is going done a wellness situation," nan Messi family said successful a statement. "He is presently nether aesculapian observation, recovering and progressing favorably wrong his existent condition."

Messi scored a hat instrumentality against Algeria past week successful his first group-stage lucifer of this year’s World Cup. He was seen successful tears aft his first goal.

Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts aft missing a punishment changeable during nan World Cup Group J lucifer against Austria successful Arlington, Texas, connected June 22, 2026. (Julio Cortez/AP)

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"My tears aft nan first goal? I’ve had immoderate reliable days. It wasn’t related to soccer. And those feelings were because of that," Messi said. "I convey my teammates, nan coaching unit and nan delegation for helping me."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.