Ten years after walking away from international football in heartbreak, Lionel Messi has reached another summit that once seemed unimaginable.
The Argentine captain became the all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history after scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria, continuing a remarkable late-career resurgence that has redefined football greatness.
Messi, who briefly retired from international football in 2016 following Argentina’s painful Copa America final defeat to Chile, admitted at the time that he could no longer bear the disappointment of falling short with his national team.
But his decision to return transformed both his legacy and Argentina’s fortunes.
Since reversing that retirement, Messi has led Argentina into a golden era, winning back-to-back Copa America titles and guiding the nation to World Cup glory in 2022, ending a 36-year wait for football’s biggest prize.
Now, at 38 and just days away from his 39th birthday, the Inter Miami star has broken another record by surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the highest goalscorer in World Cup history.
His first goal against Austria, a composed low finish in the first half, was his 17th World Cup goal and enough to move him clear at the top of the all-time scoring chart. He later added an 18th goal deep into stoppage time, sealing Argentina’s victory and another historic milestone.
The achievement is even more remarkable considering Messi missed an early penalty in the same match. Despite the setback, he recovered to deliver a decisive performance that once again underlined his ability to influence the biggest occasions.
“I enjoy playing and having a good time on the pitch,” Messi said after the game. “We enjoy seeing the people like this too, being able to give them this kind of joy.”
The numbers behind his World Cup career continue to astonish. Messi has now scored 18 goals in 28 World Cup appearances, with 12 of those goals coming after the age of 35. He has also scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, joining an exclusive group that includes Brazil’s Jairzinho and France’s Just Fontaine.
Even more impressive, all five of Argentina’s goals at the current tournament have come from Messi, who currently leads the race for the Golden Boot.
Football observers have struggled to find new words to describe his impact.
Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague described Messi’s latest performance as further proof that his football intelligence remains unmatched, while former Wales defender Ashley Williams suggested the debate over the greatest player in football history may already be settled.
Former England midfielder Danny Murphy echoed that sentiment, praising Messi’s movement, awareness, and ability to create opportunities even without relying on pace.
Despite Argentina already securing qualification for the knockout stages, questions remain over whether the team depends too heavily on their captain for goals and inspiration.
Former England striker Chris Sutton noted that while Messi continues to deliver in crucial moments, other players may need to contribute more consistently if Argentina are to successfully defend their title.
For now, however, the spotlight remains firmly on the man who refused to let heartbreak define his international career.
From retirement tears in 2016 to rewriting World Cup history a decade later, Messi’s journey has become one of football’s greatest stories—and it may not be finished yet.
Argentina face Jordan in their final group-stage match, offering the legendary forward another opportunity to extend a record that already seemed untouchable.
