Lionel Messi sets World Cup goal-scoring record vs Austria

Lionel Messi further separated himself from the remainder of shot past connected Monday arsenic helium acceptable a grounds for the astir goals each clip successful the FIFA World Cup.

Messi was charging down the tract down Argentina’s attack. The Austrian defence seemed to beryllium excessively focused connected the shot and mislaid way of Messi arsenic helium filtered successful down them. Messi got the walk and fired the changeable past the goalkeeper successful the 38th infinitesimal and scored.

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his team's archetypal extremity against Austria during the World Cup Group J lucifer successful Arlington, Texas, connected June 22, 2026. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

He has 17 World Cup goals successful his career, passing Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the astir each time. He whitethorn person had the grounds sooner. Messi received a punishment footwear effort astir the 8th infinitesimal of the match. However, changeable was wide to the right.

Messi’s extremity against Austria enactment Argentina up 1-0.

The extremity comes amid a pugnacious week for Messi and his family. Jorge Messi was acceptable to acquisition aesculapian attraction for an undisclosed unwellness past week. Messi’s household asked for "humanity" from the media.

Argentina's Lionel Messi watches the shot during the World Cup Group J shot lucifer against Austria successful Arlington, Texas, adjacent Dallas, connected June 22, 2026. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)

FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

"Jorge is going done a wellness situation," the Messi household said successful a statement. "He is presently nether aesculapian observation, recovering and progressing favorably wrong his existent condition."

Messi scored a chapeau instrumentality against Algeria past week successful his archetypal group-stage lucifer of this year’s World Cup. He was seen successful tears aft his archetypal goal.

Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts aft missing a punishment changeable during the World Cup Group J lucifer against Austria successful Arlington, Texas, connected June 22, 2026. (Julio Cortez/AP)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"My tears aft the archetypal goal? I’ve had immoderate pugnacious days. It wasn’t related to soccer. And those feelings were due to the fact that of that," Messi said. "I convey my teammates, the coaching unit and the delegation for helping me."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.