The Argentine captain delivered another masterclass, taking his World Cup tally to 18 goals across five tournaments. In doing so, Messi moved past Germany's Miroslav Klose to become the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history.
With his 39th birthday just a day away, Messi has been in sensational form, netting all five of Argentina’s goals in the tournament so far. The victory over Austria also marked his sixth consecutive World Cup match with a goal, matching a record previously shared by France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.
Messi now leads the race for the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup with five goals in just two matches. His outstanding display earned him FIFA’s Man of the Match award for the second straight game, the 12th such honor of his World Cup career.
The win sends Argentina into the Round of 32 with six points from two matches. Should Algeria defeat Jordan in the remaining Group J fixture, Argentina will secure top spot in the group and face the runner-up from Group H — featuring Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde — in Miami on July 3.
