All records Lionel Messi broke during Argentina vs Austria FIFA World Cup 2026 clash
(Courtesy : Getty)
Lionel Messi wrote his name in World Cup history with a first-half goal against Austria.
Argentina took on Austria in their second Group J clash in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on June 22. Lionel Messi was once again the protagonist for his side, stealing the spotlight after an eventful first-half display.
Messi had the chance to put his side in front in the ninth minute after La Albiceleste were awarded a penalty by VAR. However, the Argentine dragged his effort from the spot wide.
In the process, he became the player with the most penalty attempts in World Cup history (eight) and the most penalty misses (three) in the tournament. The number 10 also became the first player to miss a spot kick in this year’s World Cup edition.
Also Read: Lionel Messi sets unwanted penalty record in Argentina vs Austria FIFA World Cup 2026 clash
Top scorer Messi
The Inter Miami forward made amends for his earlier miss by scoring a wonderful goal in the 38th minute. Thiago Almada teed up Facundo Medina on the left, and the full-back drilled in a low cut-back that found Messi. The latter calmly slotted the ball past Alexander Schlager and into the back of the net.
It was a momentous occasion for the Argentine player, as it was his 17th goal in FIFA’s quadrennial tournament. It took him past Miroslav Klose’s tally of 16 World Cup goals, making him the tournament’s all-time highest goalscorer. In fact, he added one more deep in stoppage time, taking his tally to 18.
He also became only the third player to score in six consecutive World Cup matches. The only two players who had achieved this feat before are Just Fontaine (1958) and Jairzinho (1970).
Messi has the chance to break more records in the coming days. He is currently the joint second-highest assist provider in World Cup history with eight assists and needs one more to break Didi’s record.
The Argentine already holds the record for the most chances created in the tournament, with 74 – three more than second-placed Diego Maradona. In fact, Guinness World Records made a compilation of all the myriad records Messi has broken in the World Cup, which you can see below:
What scoring record did Lionel Messi break vs Austria?
His first-half goal was his 17th in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s tally of 16 to become the all‑time top scorer in the tournament.
How many World Cup goals does Messi have?
Lionel Messi have scored 18 goals in the FIFA World Cup so far.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.