Monday, June 22 will go down as one of the most historic days in FIFA World Cup history. Two of football’s greatest-ever players rewrote the record books within hours of each other, with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé both reaching extraordinary individual milestones on a day the sport will not forget. 
Messi Makes History — Again
Lionel Messi is now the all-time leading goalscorer in the history of the men’s FIFA World Cup, breaking Miroslav Klose’s 12-year record by scoring his 17th and then 18th goals in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria in Dallas. (Olympics)
At 38 years and 363 days old, Messi now holds the outright scoring record, as well as extending his own record for most FIFA World Cup appearances in his 28th match. 
His first attempt at the record came via a penalty in the ninth minute, but the 38-year-old put the spot-kick wide. He responded in emphatic fashion regardless, netting twice to seal the win for the defending champions.
The achievement surpasses even Marta’s mark of 17 Women’s World Cup goals, making Messi the greatest World Cup goalscorer of all time, male or female.
It is a staggering achievement for a player competing at his sixth World Cup, carrying Argentina’s hopes of back-to-back titles on ageing but seemingly tireless legs. 
Mbappé Levels Klose
Just hours after Messi broke the record, Kylian Mbappé scored twice against Iraq in Philadelphia to reach 16 career World Cup goals, drawing level with Miroslav Klose for what was, earlier that same day, the outright record.
The match itself made history as the first World Cup contest ever to be delayed by weather, with a lightning storm suspending the start of the second half for over two hours. It did nothing to blunt Mbappé’s sharpness. He opened the scoring with a curling left-footed effort before adding a second after a goalkeeping error, with Ousmane Dembélé completing the rout in a 3-0 win that booked France’s place in the knockout rounds.
Mbappé’s brace against Iraq also moved him two clear of Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading international goalscorer. 
At just 27 years old and with the tournament barely into its group stage, Mbappé is now just two goals behind Messi’s record. The race between them is only just beginning.
The Numbers Behind the Day
3 – Lionel Messi’s missed penalty against Austria in the 2026 World Cup was his 3rd at the World Cup and the 33rd of his career in regular play.
5 – Messi has now scored five goals at the 2026 World Cup.
28 – Messi holds the record for the most World Cup matches ever played, appearing in 28 games across six tournaments dating back to 2006.
16 – Mbappé has scored 16 goals in just 16 World Cup matches across three tournaments — an outrageous return for a player who made his debut as a 19-year-old in 2018.
What Comes Next
Both players still have games remaining in the group stage and, if their nations progress as expected, many more in the knockout rounds. Messi leads the all-time scoring chart at 18 goals. Mbappé sits at 16. The greatest individual goalscoring race in World Cup history is very much alive, and the rest of the tournament will be richer for it.
