Lionel Messi Breaks Miroslav Klose's World Cup Goal Record With Brace Against Austria

Messi’s evening hadn't started well; he missed a penalty in the opening minutes. Reflecting on this, he said, "Missing the penalty had a bit of an impact on the team. We also squandered two or three clear-cut chances. We were controlling the game, but the ball just wouldn't go into the net. Later, we bounced back and played fast, aggressive football." He added, "This team fights with everything it has in every match. We might play well or poorly, but our competitive spirit never changes."

Messi's record-breaking performance is being talked about all over the world. Even his former Barcelona teammate and legendary Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović couldn't help but praise him. Ibrahimović said, "Sometimes he seems human-like when he missed that penalty. But the very next moment, he does something that makes you feel he isn't human. That’s Messi." He added jokingly, "So far, this World Cup has been Messi's tournament. He hasn't even played against Jordan yet, so there's no telling where this story will end." Ibrahimović then drew a comparison, noting, "Messi has five goals in two matches. I played in two World Cups and didn't score a single goal. I am happy for him and hope he keeps playing this way."

Messi's record isn't limited to just the highest number of goals. By scoring against Austria, he also matched the feat of scoring in six consecutive World Cup matches. He became only the third player in history to achieve this milestone, joining France's Just Fontaine and Brazil's Jairzinho. Furthermore, Messi has now become the second player-after Miroslav Klose-to score four or more goals in three different World Cups. With two goals against Austria, Messi has now tallied five goals in the current World Cup. He is currently leading the race for the Golden Boot, with France's Kylian Mbappé and Norway's Erling Haaland trailing him with four goals each. Consequently, the battle for the Golden Boot promises to become even more thrilling as the tournament enters the knockout stage.

According to media reports, Messi is also concerned about his father's poor health these days. Despite this, he delivered a performance on the field that once again proved why he is counted among the world's greatest players on the big stage. Ahead of his 39th birthday, Messi has further cemented his legacy in the history books. Now, the world is watching to see how many more records this legendary player will claim in the 2026 World Cup.