Messi Defies Age Again: Argentine Star Sets Four World Cup Records in Victory Over Austria
Published : 11:21, 23 June 2026
At 38, Lionel Messi scores twice to lead Argentina into the knockout stage and rewrites World Cup history
Lionel Messi continues to prove that age is no barrier to greatness. The 38-year-old Argentine captain delivered another masterclass, scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage while setting four historic records.
With his brace against Austria, Messi’s World Cup goal tally has risen to 18, making him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. He surpassed German legend Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 goals. Messi also moved ahead of Brazilian women’s football icon Marta, who scored 17 World Cup goals across her international career.
Most Goals in World Cup History
Messi’s two goals against Austria took his total to 18 World Cup goals, allowing him to overtake Klose and become the tournament’s highest scorer ever.
Most World Cup Wins
The victory over Austria marked Messi’s 18th World Cup win. The previous record of 17 victories was held by Miroslav Klose. Having featured in six World Cups from 2006 to 2026, Messi has now established a new benchmark.
Most World Cup Appearances
Since making his World Cup debut in 2006, Messi has now played 28 matches in the tournament. He broke Lothar Matthäus’ long-standing record of 25 appearances during the 2022 World Cup final and has continued to extend that mark.
Most Minutes Played at the World Cup
After playing almost the entire match against Austria, Messi’s total World Cup playing time reached 2,489 minutes. He had previously surpassed Italian legend Paolo Maldini’s record of 2,217 minutes during the 2022 World Cup final.
Messi has been in sensational form, scoring five goals in Argentina’s opening two matches of the tournament. His performances have inspired the reigning champions to the knockout stage and reinforced their status as one of the favorites for the title.
As records continue to fall, Messi’s remarkable longevity and excellence are once again reminding the football world why he is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
