Messi Becomes All-Time World Cup Top Scorer
Lionel Messi, Argentina's World Cup-winning icon, continued to defy age and expectations as he set multiple records in his side's FIFA World Cup clash against Austria on Monday. Messi scored a brace, guiding Argentina to a victory that secured their place in the last 32.
With his two goals, Messi became the highest goal-scorer in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose, who had 16 goals. Messi now has 18 World Cup goals, putting him atop the all-time list.
Second Player to Score First Five Goals for Country
According to OptaJoe, Messi is just the second player in World Cup history to score his country's first five goals in a single edition. He joins Oleg Salenko, who achieved this for Russia in 1994. Messi scored all of Argentina's five goals in the tournament so far, including a hat trick in the opener against Algeria.
Oldest Striker with 50+ Touches Since 1966
During the match, Messi, who will celebrate his 39th birthday on Wednesday, had 71 touches. This made him the oldest striker since 1966 to have 50 or more touches in a World Cup match.
Equaling Records and Setting New Ones
Messi's brace also saw him equal the record of France's Just Fontaine and Brazil's Jairzinho by scoring in his sixth successive World Cup game. Furthermore, Messi set a new record for the most wins by a player in World Cup history, with his 18th victory, surpassing Klose's tally of 17 wins.
Argentina Tops Group J
The win moved Argentina to the top of Group J with six points from two matches, securing their progression to the last 32. Messi's record-breaking performance continues to captivate fans and pundits alike.
