Lionel Messi breaks record for career goals scored at the World Cup

BREAKING NEWSUpdated 3 minutes agoWorld CupWorld CupLionel Messi breaks record for career goals scored at the World CupMessi separates himself from Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who netted 16 goals in the World Cup.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his team's first goal against Austria on Monday.Charlotte Wilson / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 22, 2026, 1:40 PM EDT / Updated June 22, 2026, 1:46 PM EDTBy Rohan NadkarniArgentina star Lionel Messi has set a new record for career goals scored at the men’s World Cup, recording his 17th World Cup goal against Austria on Monday.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Messi scored the record goal in the 38th minute, burying a left-footed one-timer off a pass from Facundo Medina. Messi had a chance to break the record much earlier in the match, but missed a penalty kick wide right in the ninth minute. Follow along for live coverage Messi, who turns 39 this week, entered this World Cup with 13 career goals across five World Cup tournaments. He scored a hat trick in the team’s opener against Algeria to tie Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 before setting the new mark Monday.Messi’s World Cup career began in 2006, when he scored only his second goal for Argentina (and first in a non-exhibition) against Serbia and Montenegro.After failing to score at the 2010 World Cup, Messi scored four times at the 2014 tournament in Brazil.Messi scored only once more at the 2018 Cup before his remarkable performance in 2022. Messi scored seven times for Argentina during the country’s World Cup-winning run in Qatar, including twice in the final in a win over France. The World Cup record is yet another accomplishment in Messi’s highly decorated career. In addition to scoring the most goals in World Cup history, Messi has won more Ballon d’Or awards (eight) than any player in history. He also owns records for t...