Lionel Messi etched his name deeper into football history on Monday by becoming the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer. The Argentine captain scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria in Texas, taking his career World Cup tally to 18 goals and surpassing the previous record of 16 shared with Miroslav Klose.
Messi had equaled Klose's mark with a brilliant hat-trick against Algeria the previous week before breaking the record with his latest brace. His goals helped secure Argentina's place in the knockout stage and reinforced his status as one of the greatest players in football history.
Not to be outdone, Kylian Mbappe delivered another outstanding performance for France. The French superstar scored twice in a comfortable 3-0 victory over Iraq, despite the match being disrupted by severe thunderstorms that delayed the second-half kickoff by nearly two hours.
Mbappe's brace increased his all-time World Cup goal tally to 16, drawing level with former record-holder Miroslav Klose. The 27-year-old forward has now scored four goals in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, placing him just one goal behind Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
The contrast between the two football icons adds another fascinating chapter to this World Cup. While Messi continues to rewrite history with his record-breaking achievements, Mbappe is rapidly building a legacy that could eventually challenge every major scoring record in the tournament.
The competition between Messi and Mbappe has become one of the defining narratives of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Messi, the veteran leader of Argentina, is extending a remarkable career with every match. Mbappe, meanwhile, represents the new generation, combining explosive pace, clinical finishing, and remarkable consistency on football's biggest stage.
With the knockout rounds approaching, both players remain central to their nations' ambitions and to the race for individual honors.
All-time World Cup leading scorers:
18 - Lionel Messi (ARG)
16 - Miroslav Klose (GER), Kylian Mbappe (FRA)
15 - Ronaldo (BRA)
14 - Gerd Mueller (GER)
13 - Just Fontaine (FRA)
12 - Pele (BRA)
11 - Jurgen Klinsmann (GER), Sandor Kocsis (HUN)
10 - Gabriel Batistuta (ARG), Harry Kane (ENG), Helmut Rahn (GER), Gary Lineker (ENG), Teofilo Cubillas (PER), Thomas Mueller (GER), Grzegorz Lato (POL)
