Photo by DURAOFOTO - Depositphotos

Lionel Messi has added another extraordinary chapter to his legendary career, becoming the outright all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.

The Argentina captain reached the milestone during his side's FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage clash against Austria, scoring the goal that moved him clear at the top of the tournament's all-time scoring charts.

The historic moment arrived in the 39th minute. Timing his run perfectly, Messi met a low pass inside the penalty area and guided a precise first-time finish into the right corner, wrong-footing the goalkeeper and giving Argentina the lead.

The strike was the 17th World Cup goal of Messi's remarkable international career, setting a new tournament record. To reach the landmark, the Argentine superstar required 28 World Cup appearances spanning five tournaments, from his debut at the 2006 FIFA World Cup to the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.

In doing so, Messi surpassed former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, whose tally of 16 World Cup goals had stood as the benchmark for more than a decade. The German forward set his record across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014.