FIFA World Cup 2026: Messi surpasses Klose for most wins by a player in World Cup history

TEXAS: Lionel Messi set a new record for the most wins by a player in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing German legend Miroslav Klose’s tally of 17 victories after leading Argentina to a 2-0 win over Austria with a record-breaking brace in their Group J match on Monday, June 22 (local time) in Texas.

According to Guinness World Records, Messi now has 18 victories in FIFA World Cup matches, the highest by any player in the tournament’s history.

Messi had equalled Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record of 17 World Cup wins after Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in their 2026 World Cup opener, a match in which he scored a hat-trick. With the win over Austria, Messi moved clear of Klose and now holds the record outright with 18 World Cup victories.

All the records broken by Lionel Messi today:

Most FIFA World Cup finals goals by a football (soccer) player – 18

Most FIFA World Cup matches played in by an individual – 28

Most matches won by a player at the football (soccer) FIFA World Cup – 18

Most minutes played in the…

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) June 22, 2026

Coming to the match, Messi scored twice as he rewrote the history books by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s World Cup history ahead of his 39th birthday (June 24), flying past Klose. He first scored in the 38th minute to surpass Klose’s mark of 16 goals and then scored another in the stoppage time to now sit 18 goals in World Cup history, two strikes clear of second-placed Klose.

Messi also became just the second player in men’s FIFA World Cup history to score four or more goals in three different editions of the tournament (2014, 2022 and 2026), according to Opta. The only other player to achieve the feat is Klose.

Notably, the two goals also take Messi atop the leading goalscorers list in the ongoing World Cup with five goals to his name in two matches. He came into this match on the back of a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s campaign opener.

WATCH: Lionel Messi scores and becomes the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.

A historic moment for Argentina. pic.twitter.com/Z2DiVZonuJ

— World Cup 2026 (@WorldCupMedia_) June 22, 2026

The Argentine captain endured a frustrating start after missing a penalty in the sixth minute, sending his effort wide following a VAR-awarded spot kick. Austria responded with an energetic pressing display and troubled the defending champions for much of the first half.

However, Messi broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. A clever dummy from Thiago Almada allowed the ball to run through to the veteran forward, who calmly finished into the bottom corner to give Argentina the lead.

Austria continued to push after the break, but Argentina managed the game well through a series of tactical substitutions from head coach Lionel Scaloni around the 64th and 65th minutes, introducing fresh legs in Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Gonzalez to exploit spaces as the match opened up.

As Austria committed players forward in search of an equaliser, Argentina struck again deep into stoppage time. Messi led a swift counter-attack and finished clinically in the 95th minute to seal a 2-0 victory and complete his brace.

The 38-year-old has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches and has equalled the all-time record of six straight World Cup games with a goal, a mark jointly held by France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.

The win moves Argentina to the top of Group J with six points from two matches, putting them through to the last 32. (ANI)