Arlington, Texas — Argentine star Lionel Messi broke the record for the number of goals scored in the World Cup finals by scoring his 17th goal in Argentina’s match against Austria on Monday, and that came about half an hour after he missed a penalty kick.
The record goal for a 1-0 lead came in the 38th minute, two days before Messi’s 39th birthday, and amid the worry of his sick father at home. This was the sixth consecutive World Cup match in which Messi scored.
Argentine Lionel Messi reacts after failing to score a penalty kick during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Austria in Arlington, Texas on June 22, 2026.
AP Photo/Sam Huddy
Messi equaled German striker Miroslav Klose’s record for the most goals in a World Cup at the age of 16, after his first hat-trick of the tournament during Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in the opening match of Group J last Tuesday night in Kansas City.
And with a chance to break the record in the ninth minute on Monday, Messi missed a penalty kick.
Messi’s left-foot kick went wide of the right post. He is now 4 of 7 on penalties in regulation play at the World Cup with two misses in three consecutive tournaments.
Argentine Lionel Messi (10), center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his team’s opening goal against Austria in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, June 22, 2026.
AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lautaro Martinez was running freely into the penalty area when he was fouled from behind by Xavier Schlager and Stefan Bosch, a defender who was playing with a broken jaw. Schalger put his foot on the ball, but Bosch took the penalty because he did not touch the ball when Martinez fell to the ground.
The play continued for more than a minute, and Martinez remained on the ground near the goal. When the play stopped for him, officials went to review the play.
Messi’s hat-trick in the previous match, in his 200th international appearance, came 20 years to the date of his first World Cup appearance, when he also scored. He is playing in his sixth World Cup finals, and Monday was FIFA’s 28th match in the tournament.
Klose played 24 matches in the World Cup with the German national team, which ended its fourth tournament by winning the 2014 final with a score of 1-0 after extra time over Messi and Argentina.
The family said in a statement last week that Messi’s father is undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness, without providing any details.
Jorge Messi, 68, played a key role in his third son’s football career, acting as his agent and managing his business affairs off the pitch.
Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion after scoring his first goal against Algeria, and he said after that match that his tears came after difficult days that had nothing to do with football.
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