Lionel Messi has become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer after scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria.

FIFA’s match report says Messi recovered from an early penalty miss to score both goals. Associated Press reporting says the strikes took him to 18 career World Cup goals, passing Germany’s Miroslav Klose, whose record stood at 16.

The milestone arrived during a high-scoring start to the expanded 2026 tournament. AP reports that the World Cup produced 121 goals in its first 40 games, scored by 88 players. With 104 matches in the expanded format, total-goal comparisons with earlier 64-match tournaments need care, but the per-game rate is still notable.

Messi’s achievement adds another layer to a career already defined by longevity and late-era reinvention. For Argentina, it also keeps momentum around a side still able to rely on its captain in decisive moments.