Messi Breaks World Cup Scoring Record as Mbappe Keeps Pace

Lionel Messi said he was happy with Argentina’s win after breaking the all-time World Cup scoring record, calling it a “important and very difficult” victory that relieved the team ahead of what comes next. After the match, he stressed the tournament context, saying that all World Cup games are intense, every team plays well, and Argentina are pleased to have six points and already advanced from the group stage.

Messi, who turns 39 tomorrow, scored twice in Argentina’s match against Austria. His first goal came in the 38th minute, after Facundo Medina crossed from the left and Thiago Almada left the ball for Messi, who finished sharply into the left corner from the edge of the box. That was his 17th World Cup goal, moving him ahead of Miroslav Klose. He had earlier missed a penalty in the 30th minute after Lautaro Martinez was fouled in the area, saying afterward, “I had the penalty I could have scored,” but added that he was still happy with the result.

Messi’s second goal came deep into stoppage time, in the 95th minute, after a fast counterattack. He controlled the ball, shot, saw it blocked, regained possession and scored again. It was his fifth goal of the tournament and 18th overall in his World Cup career. Asked afterward about his favorite World Cup goal, Messi said he could not name one because he was tired and not thinking clearly, and that he was simply enjoying the moment and waiting to join his teammates.

The record did not last long before Kylian Mbappe answered with a brace in France’s 3-0 win over Iraq. Mbappe moved past Cristiano Ronaldo Fenomeno and tied Klose at 16 World Cup goals, doing it at age 27 in only 16 World Cup matches. He said, “If I want to keep up with what Messi is doing, I’ll have to do even more,” and added that he is focused on helping his team by scoring goals. France coach Didier Deschamps said Mbappe “can take Messi, he can take Ronaldo” and praised his global aura. The France match was also delayed for more than two hours by heavy rain and lightning, with 68,324 spectators told to take shelter.