Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, has officially surpassed Miroslav Klose to become the leading goalscorer in the history of the World Cup. During the 2026 tournament match against Austria, the Inter Miami forward secured his 17th career goal in the competition.
The milestone arrived shortly after a missed opportunity, as Messi sent an earlier penalty attempt wide of the frame. He redeemed himself by firing a clinical shot from the edge of the penalty area to secure the lead for his nation. This achievement pushes Klose, who held the previous benchmark of 16 goals, into second place.
In addition to this scoring feat, Messi has further cemented his legacy by becoming the first player ever to participate in six different World Cup tournaments.
