Messi scores twice towards Austria to interrupt Miroslav Klose’s World Cup scoring file
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second purpose with Leandro Paredes. Photograph: Reuters
Lionel Messi added to his legacy Monday afternoon by scoring his record-breaking seventeenth profession World Cup purpose within the first half earlier than including his 18th in second-half stoppage time of Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria in Arlington, Texas.
The seventeenth purpose broke a tie with Germany’s Miroslav Klose. The 18th places him 4 in entrance of France’s Kylian Mbappe, the next-closest energetic participant, whose facet performs later Monday towards Iraq.
“Nicely, I am very joyful due to this victory,” Messi mentioned instantly after the match via an interpreter. “This was a vital and hard victory. We labored very exhausting on it. And that reassures us for what’s coming subsequent.
“So this can be a World Cup. The entire matches are very intense, and the entire groups play effectively. And we’re joyful as a result of we’ve got six factors and we’re certified.”
Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, has scored 11 of his historic whole of 18 objectives since turning 35. His whole from the final two World Cups alone can be tied for seventh on the match’s all-time scoring record.
Messi scored his record-setting purpose on a first-touch left-footed strike from simply contained in the 18-yard field within the thirty eighth minute off an help from Facundo Medina.
He accomplished his brace 5 minutes into added time, cleansing up his personal rebound following a surging counterattack and firing low via site visitors. That gave him a two-goal lead over Canada’s Jonathan David and Germany’s Deniz Undav within the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race.
Requested for his favourite World Cup purpose of his profession, Messi couldn’t pinpoint one.
“I do not bear in mind, actually,” he mentioned. “I am drained. I haven’t got plenty of power, and it is exhausting to assume for me proper now. So I am simply having fun with this second , and I wish to be a part of my colleagues.”
Messi, who grew to become one of many first two gamers to seem in six World Cups final week alongside Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, entered this summer season’s occasion three objectives behind Klose. Behind his first profession World Cup hat trick within the Group J opener vs. Algeria on June 16, he pulled even coming into the second group-stage match.
With the purpose, Messi additionally tied a unique World Cup file, scoring in his sixth straight match relationship again to the 2022 World Cup, which Argentina received. He is simply the third participant to attain in six straight World Cup matches, alongside France’s Simply Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.
He appeared destined to interrupt the file roughly half-hour earlier when Lautaro Martinez was tackled within the field, and Argentina was awarded a penalty kick. Nonetheless, Messi missed the following penalty kick vast of the suitable publish within the ninth minute.
“I had the penalty that I might have scored,” Messi mentioned. “Nicely, perhaps had I performed that, I would not have scored the others. You by no means know. However I am joyful concerning the outcomes due to our participation and the teamwork. Nicely, let’s hope it should even go higher.”
