Messi shatters Klose's all-time World Cup goals record with 18 strikes in two games

Lionel Messi rewrote the World Cup record books twice over as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 to advance to the round of 32 and seal top spot in Group J, with the 38-year-old captain now the outright leading scorer in World Cup history with 18 goals.

Messi entered the tournament three goals shy of Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals — a mark that had stood since the German striker retired in 2014. He drew level with Klose by the end of Argentina’s opening win over Algeria, then surpassed him before half-time against Austria, and added an 18th in stoppage time to leave the record in ruins.

All five of Argentina’s goals across their two group-stage matches were scored by Messi, who turns 39 later this month. The Inter Miami forward now holds the record for most World Cup goals, most World Cup matches played (28), most minutes played at the tournament, and — after Tuesday’s win — most World Cup matches won (18), moving one clear of Klose’s previous mark of 17.

Klose, who scored 16 goals across four World Cups for Germany, had held the goals record since 2014. Gerd Müller, Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo all trail Messi on the all-time list, as does France’s Kylian Mbappé, who moved to within three goals of Messi’s new tally shortly after the final whistle.

On the wins record, Brazil’s Cafu sits third with 16 tournament victories, while five players — Wolfgang Overath, Ronaldo, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lothar Matthäus — have each won 15 World Cup matches.

Messi also shares with Cristiano Ronaldo the record for most World Cups played, both having appeared at every tournament since Germany 2006. But it is Messi who leads on matches played (28 to Ronaldo’s 23), with Matthäus second on 25 and Klose third on 24.

With Argentina through to the knockout rounds as group winners, Messi will have further opportunities to extend records that, at this stage of his career, seem almost impossible to quantify.