FIFA World Cup 2026. Lionel Messi sets unwanted World Cup record before stunning turnaround to become all-time top scorer Football News:
The Argentina captain’s ninth-minute miss created a remarkable piece of FIFA World Cup history, adding to a statistical record that now sits alongside his remarkable goalscoring achievements.Lionel Messi eventually found not just one but two goals that made him the top scorer in FIFA World Cup history, but before reaching the landmark against Austria on Monday, the Argentina captain added his name to a very different section of the record books.The 39th-minute goal that put Argentina ahead in their Group J clash ensured Lionel Messi moved to 17 World Cup goals, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose. She then added a second deep in stoppage time, taking her tally to 18 and extending her lead as the absolute top scorer in World Cup history in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Messi now has five goals in just two games at the 2026 tournament, following his opening-day hat-trick against Algeria. With this 2-0 victory, Argentina officially secured their place in the knockout rounds, while Messi also equaled the records held by Just Fontaine of France, the legendary striker who scored 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup, and Jairzinho of Brazil, a key figure in Brazil’s 1970 World Cup-winning side who scored in every game in every game. He has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, highlighting his incredible consistency on football’s biggest stage.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, center, scores the opening goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Austria in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Yet the most interesting statistical development of the afternoon came earlier when the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner missed a penalty that, for a short time, delayed his pursuit of the scoring record.That miss did more than postpone history. It established Messi as the direct holder of two separate World Cup penalty records, one reflecting his longevity and Argentina’s repeated deep runs in the tournament, the other highlighting a surprisingly complex relationship with penalties on football’s biggest stage.
How the failed penalty
The opportunity came in the ninth minute after a lengthy VAR review. Lautaro Martínez entered the penalty area before being challenged by Austrian Xaver Schlager and Stefan Posch. While Schlager appeared to make contact with the ball, the officials determined that Posch’s challenge on Martínez warranted a penalty after reviewing the incident.The game continued for more than a minute as Martínez remained on the pitch before the referee finally stopped proceedings and consulted the pitchside monitor.The decision gave Messi the chance to score his 17th World Cup goal and move Klose away.However, his left-footed effort drifted wide of the right post.
Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager (1) dives for the ball as Argentina’s Lionel Messi’s shot goes wide during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Austria in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
At the time, Messi remained tied with Klose with 16 World Cup goals. More importantly for the purpose of statistical history, he registered the third clean sheet of his World Cup career.
Messi already has two World Cup penalty records
The miss against Austria was Messi’s seventh penalty attempt in normal World Cup play, excluding penalty shootouts.No player in the history of the competition has taken more.It also became his third missed penalty, moving him clear of former Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan and giving him sole possession of another World Cup record.So Messi now stands alone as the player with the most penalties taken and most penalties missed in FIFA World Cup history, excluding shootouts.His overall record now stands at four successful conversions from seven attempts.Ahead of Monday’s match, Messi shared the unwanted record for most misses with Gyan, whose two misses came against the Czech Republic in 2006 and in one of the most spectacular moments in World Cup history against Uruguay in the 2010 quarter-finals. On that occasion, after Luis Suárez handled the ball on the goal line and was sent off, Gyan struck the resulting penalty against the crossbar in the final moments of extra time, denying Ghana a place in the semi-finals.Messi’s miss against Austria moved him past Gyan and into sole possession of the record.
A World Cup penalty story spanning three tournaments
What makes the record even more remarkable is how it spanned three separate World Cups. Messi’s first World Cup penalty came against Iceland in Russia 2018. With Argentina level at 1-1, his effort was saved by goalkeeper Hannes Halldórsson.Four years ago in Qatar, he converted against Saudi Arabia before suffering another setback when he was denied by Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny in the group stage.The rest of the tournament changed his penalty narrative.Messi converted against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, Croatia in the semi-finals and France in the final, making it three of the most important goals of Argentina’s title-winning campaign.Against Austria in 2026, another miss was added to the list.His World Cup penalty record now consists of successful efforts against Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Croatia and France, along with misses against Iceland, Poland and Austria.The numbers show a striking difference. Messi has become one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the competition, but penalties have always represented one of the few areas where weakness can sometimes be seen.
Where does Cristiano Ronaldo rank and other greats
Messi’s number of penalty attempts separates him from almost every other player in World Cup history.Cristiano Ronaldo, often compared to Lionel Messi throughout his two-decade international career, scored three of his four penalties at the World Cup.The Portugal captain scored against Iran in 2006, Spain in 2018 and Ghana in 2022. His only miss came late in the 2018 tournament when Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand saved his effort during a 1-1 draw.So Ronaldo ended his World Cup career with three goals and one miss from four penalty attempts.Many other legendary players have also shown penalty records in the tournament.
- England captain Harry Kane took five penalties at the World Cup, scoring four and conceding one.
- Portugal great Eusébio converted all four of his World Cup penalties without a miss.
- Argentina striker Gabriel Batistuta also scored in all four of his attempts.
- Netherlands forward Rob Rensenbrink also maintained a perfect record, converting four penalties from four attempts.
Messi’s total of seven attempts remains unbeaten, while his four successful conversions place him alongside some of the most effective penalty takers the tournament has seen.
A record built on longevity and opportunity
The reason Messi owns both records is neither accurate nor inaccurate, it is largely a reflection of Argentina’s longevity, opportunity and continued success in many tournaments.Monday’s game against Austria was his FIFA-record 28th World Cup appearance and came during his sixth World Cup campaign. Less than a week ago, he scored a hat-trick against Algeria in his 200th international appearance, exactly 20 years after his World Cup debut.Few players have played enough World Cup matches to accumulate seven penalty opportunities. Fewer have done it while remaining the centerpiece of their national team’s attack for nearly two decades.
Lionel Messi of Argentina leaves the field after the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Austria in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
That longevity puts Messi in a unique statistical category.Before halftime against Austria, his penalty miss briefly set an unwanted record. But he responded quickly, breaking the all-time men’s World Cup scoring record with his 17th goal in the 39th minute, and again, deep in stoppage time, he added an 18th to extend his lead and seal a 2-0 victory for Argentina.The goalscoring record inevitably dominates the headlines. Penalty records, however, provide a sobering reminder that even the most accomplished World Cup career ever has contained moments of disappointment alongside moments of greatness.In Messi’s case, both happened on the same afternoon.
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