Messi Ties World Cup Goal Record; One Goal Away from All-Time Lead

Argentine footballer Lionel Messi has equalled the record for the most goals in FIFA World Cup history, after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's opening match of the 2026 tournament against Algeria. Messi now has 16 goals in World Cups, tying him with Germany's Miroslav Klose for first place on the all-time list.

The 38-year-old forward opened the scoring in the 12th minute, added a second in the 45th, and completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute to lead Argentina to a 4-1 victory. The performance moved him level with Klose, who scored 16 goals across four World Cups from 2002 to 2014.

Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazário de Lima remains in third place with 15 World Cup goals, while German legend Gerd Müller is fourth with 14. Messi also holds the record for most goal contributions (goals plus assists) in World Cup history, with 16 goals and 8 assists for a total of 24 contributions.

Messi will have the opportunity to claim the outright record in Argentina's next Group J match against Austria, scheduled for Monday in Dallas, Texas. Should he score, he will become the first player to reach 17 goals in the men's World Cup.

Messi's achievement adds to his storied career, which includes winning the World Cup in 2022, multiple Ballon d'Or awards, and numerous club titles with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami. His consistency on the global stage has earned him recognition as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

The match against Austria is expected to draw significant global attention as fans await a potential record-breaking moment in World Cup history.