Lionel Messi becomes men's World Cup all-time top scorer

sportsJun 22, 202611511,202

Lionel Messi scored his 17th World Cup goal against Austria in Arlington, Texas, becoming the men's World Cup all-time top scorer by surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose (16). The 38-year-old opened the scoring in Argentina's Group J match, bringing his career World Cup tally to 17 across six tournaments. Breaking Klose's mark cements Messi's place in World Cup history and reshapes comparisons among the game's all-time international greats.

Soccerdonna

@soccerdonna.de

Lionel Messi 🇦🇷 is the second player in history to score 17 goals at a World Cup. Marta did it first! 🇧🇷👑

583345d ago

Michael Scanlan68

Of course a woman did it first, women are awesome. Just ask the US women's team.

Yxuppi!30

I’ll be pedantic and suggest “in World Cups” instead of “at a World Cup, or “17 career goals at the World Cup.” The “a” in a World Cup suggests one World Cup.

paulyk37.bsky.social14

Mbappe has 14 and plays later today

Absurd_Dad13

Women pave the way yet rarely get recognized credit. Once again.

Chris Barks9

Thank you. Strange also, that it's wildly unknown that the US won 4! World champion titles in football/soccer.

MDP7

Comparing a man and a woman, not quite the same achievement. Sorry. I like women’s soccer and hockey. But the calibre of the competition is nowhere near where it is for men. I think it’s important not to pretend.

helloworldd06.bsky.social6

This is phrased bizarrely. It should say 17 goals scored across their world cup appearances.

Purrypurrydog6

And he’s on 18 now…

Coração Tricolor6

Now he passed her 18

I am B4

Marta is awesome but that is no reason to dismiss Messi’s greatness or record.

Ally The Ever Hopefull 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇮🇪 🇪🇺3

Well done Messi, great to see the men catching up with the women

Cat 🇨🇦🇺🇸3

And how much press coverage was there when Marta scored that record goal? 🦗🦗🦗

Mlle_Lynda3

Oh boy! Not another Brazil 🇧🇷 vs. Argentina 🇦🇷 rivalry. 🫣🤣😅

totesnhose.bsky.social2

And also the first to score 18

democrat4.bsky.social2

But none of Marta's were agreed before the matches she scored them in.

Bryan Fischer

@bryandfischer.bsky.social

Messi, asked which of his World Cup goals was his favorite: “I don’t know. I don’t remember. I’m tired.”

204545d ago

Heidi Finan164

“Goals are like children, no favorites. Gonna go take a nap”

Different Day63

Man's gonna be 39 and has 5 goals in 2 World Cup games. Let him drink some Ensure and take a nap. GOAT

G. Willow Wilson37

When you're so goated you lose track

Ian Coldwater 🧊🚫19

Stars: they’re just like us!

Carfire 🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️19

He’s so real for this

Brittany Andrews11

Messi really makes the impossible look routine. Every time you think you've seen it all, he gives fans another moment to talk about.

🔆9

The most 38 year old man to ever live

Gregory Mendham 7

Messi doesn't play anyone's game. He never has.

dotdarling.bsky.social6

Me being 58 and trying to remember why I walked into a room….

Stony5

Bro has scored so many World Cup goals that even he needs a moment to remember them all 😂

Dr Rasu Shrestha4

Answer is : yes. bsky.app/profile/rasu...

fr33d0mnow.bsky.social4

There was a women footballer who achieved 17 goals in a World cup before Messi 🤔

Dylan Kerrigan3

Lol @ I don't remember. Legend

SethDrakin3

I would have said the one that won me a World Cup

Dig2

Same, Messi. I also am tired and cannot remember any of my World Cup goals.

Miles Davis Memorial Bicycle Lane2

Okay. I like him now.

Colin B.2

Probably being tortured by the memory of the missed penalty.

Jago20122

#neurodiversity You'll always get a straight answer from us!

andré

@andre-carlisle.bsky.social

comically shanking pens and complaining about being tired, basically i am 75% lionel messi

50445d ago

LaNorris Sellers’ Heisman Trophy13

the 25% is the difference in height

Aleida Rosales Is Sick of Your Shit3

Andre "Stretch" Messi, but in this case Andre refuses to use the term "vos" and only uses "usted"

Patrickworld 🌎👋🏾🎸

@patrickworld.bsky.social

#BREAKING Lionel Messi is now the leading goalscorer in men’s World Cup history. Messi, 38, opened the scoring against Austria with a brilliant finish to break the all-time men’s World Cup scoring record, moving on to 17 goals

Lionel Richie is pictured holding a blue Carlisle United football jersey. Yeah I’m expanding to breaking news now. Please don’t be mad

39845d ago

andimalloutofbubblegum39

Hello, is it goals you’re looking for?

Dave Methvin 👊⛳🔥31

He could play...all night long

Dexter Crisp19

Celebrated by dancing on the ceiling

iggyzig17

Yes you're once Twice ... Seventeen times a FWC goal scorer

Richard Christian14

Messi makes it look easy...like Sunday morning

(((Alternate Snacks)))7

I got to the end of this still expecting it to be about Lionel Richie.

Barbara or Babs, Never Barb5

Hello? Is it me you're looking for?

Too Much Treeko4

Hello, is this me you looking for *sneaked in and scores goal*

thememo.bsky.social3

🎵🎶 Shooka down, Shooka down, Shooka down down

𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘤𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘺 🍁2

He can score goals all night long!

jbarb52.bsky.social2

These comments never disappoint. 😆😂

karmaisawoman.bsky.social2

It’s like he dances on the ceiling

JustAGuyFromKY2

Lionel doesn’t move on…. he Sail(s) On

Alice Lilly

@aliceolilly.bsky.social

Messi when asked about his favourite World Cup goal 🤝 People in the UK when asked who the prime minister is

30845d ago

Katelyn Burns

@katelynburns.com

MLS player Lionel Messi becomes the all time leading goal scorer in Men's World Cup history.

16045d ago

The Associated Press

@apnews.com

Lionel Messi sets the record for the most World Cup goals with his 17th for Argentina at the tournament.

11245d ago

Working Kate9

Most men’s World Cup goals. I would expect better from you, AP.

adamhighton.bsky.social6

He is still tied with Marta.

davenow4

He tied it, he did t break it. Unless you just mean men.

Nikki Suydam3

Geez. It’s like Marta doesn’t exist.

Dave Levitan

@davelevitan.bsky.social

Goals so far in the World Cup: Germany - 9 Canada, Netherlands - 7 US, Sweden, Japan - 6 Lionel Messi, Switzerland - 5 Everyone else - <5

10945d ago

Melissa Wong4

The Germans are actually bothering to score more goals than the obligatory one before they just spend the rest of the game defending? Egad.

Dog Has Thoughts3

Imagine what a whole Argentina team could do!

Delicious Terrine 🍉2

What can you say? that guy just loves scoring goals?

The New York Times

@nytimes.com

From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Lionel Messi has broken Miroslav Klose's record for the most goals scored in men's World Cup history. The 38-year-old has now scored 17 goals across six tournaments. Fans were weeping in the Dallas crowd. nyti.ms/4w8PQQi

Lionel Messi Breaks World Cup Goals Record

10645d ago

strngbny.bsky.social2

Mbappe is close behind. Could be a couple of overtakes before the dust settles

PBS News

@pbsnews.org

Lionel Messi is now the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. Argentina's superstar overcame a missed penalty kick early on to score his 17th and 18th goals in his team's win over Austria. The defending champions now advance to the knockout rounds.

8945d ago

PBS News25

One team is still aiming to advance. Norway is looking to ride a wave of fan support, with supporters performing their 'Viking Row' in New York's Times Square. Norway takes the pitch against Senegal tonight.

Petmomnw8

In MEN’S World Cup soccer.

H. Z. Sankey 🇨🇦🇺🇸6

In Men’s. He is tied for the all over lead.

tappybell.bsky.social4

Marta got there first. Maybe you give give him runner up props.

Leighflet (they/them)2

@pbsnews.org Do you mean in men’s World Cup history?

TheRedQueen2

I think you will find he was beaten by a lady to reach that accolade first 👇

Kat 🕊️💖🎭

@smith83k.bsky.social

@tcrg2012.bsky.social Lionel Messi makes history as the World Cup’s all-time top scorer!!! ⚽️🎉🥳 #Pinks www.cnn.com/2026/06/22/s...

4845d ago

Al Jazeera English

@aljazeera.com

Lionel Messi became the highest goalscorer in #FIFAWorldCup history after scoring his 17th and 18th tournament goals in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria. The goals saw him surpass both Miroslav Klose and Brazil women's striker Marta, and sent Argentina into the knockout stage.

7445d ago