Dallas: Argentina player Lionel Messi (center) makes a run with the ball during the group J match between Argentina and Austria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Dallas Stadium in Dallas, the United States, June 22, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua via IANS)
Arlington, June 23 (IANS) After becoming the FIFA World Cup's all-time scorer two days shy of his 39th birthday, Lionel Messi said he is not thinking about his age; his only focus is to remain fit.
The Argentina captain netted against Austria to surpass Miroslav Klose's record of 16 strikes at the global tournament with a first-half strike in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria in Dallas. He added another goal in stoppage time to take his career tally in the tournament to 18 goals.
"I'm not spending time thinking about my age. I'm simply focused on being well," Messi told reporters. "I feel physically good, and maybe that's why I'm playing better."
Monday's result moved Argentina to the top of Group J with six points, three points clear of second-placed Austria. With the reigning champion's progress to the round of 32 already assured, Messi said he was unsure if he would play in Argentina's final group match against Jordan on Saturday.
"The manager (Lionel Scaloni) will decide whether I play or not, or how much I play," the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner said. "I feel good and happy to be part of this group, which always competes no matter who the opponent is and never relaxes."
Messi admitted that his missed penalty in the ninth minute of Monday's match had affected the team "a little". We missed two or three clear chances," he said.
"We were controlling the game, but the ball just wouldn't go in. Then we managed to recover, playing very intense, very fast football. The team competes, and competes very well. We can play better or worse, but there's no doubt we'll compete in every match the same way, no matter who the opponent is," he added.
I've always said he is no slouch: Klose salutes Messi on breaking FIFA WC's all-time scoring record
Former Germany forward Miroslav Klose congratulated Lionel Messi after the Argentine broke his World Cup goalscoring record with a first-half strike in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria in Dallas. He added another goal in stoppage time to take his career tally in the tournament to 18 goals.
With the brace, Messi surpassed Klose, who previously held the record with 16 World Cup goals. The achievement came during Messi’s sixth FIFA World Cup campaign, making him the first men’s player ever to appear in six editions of the tournament (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026).
"I've always said Messi is no slouch," Klose, 48, told German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. "For me, Lionel Messi is the best footballer of all time! Congratulations, champion!"
Klose held the title of the World Cup's record scorer for 12 years, netting at every final between 2002 and 2014. scored five goals each at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups before netting four times in 2010 and twice in 2014.
Speaking prior to the tournament, and in anticipation of Messi breaking his record, Klose told FIFA, "Messi is simply Messi. I've always admired the way he solved problems and the way he carried himself as a person, even on the pitch."
Messi scored once in 2006, four times in 2014, once in 2018, seven times in 2022 and has netted five goals in the current tournament. He has played in a joint-record six editions of the World Cup, scoring at five of those, with his first goal at the tournament coming against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. He was unable, however, to select his favourite of the 18 strikes, so exhausted was he after his latest act of history making.
"I don’t know, to be honest, I can’t remember right now," he told Telemundo. "I’m tired, I’m running low on energy, and I’m finding it hard to think, so anyway, I’m just going to enjoy this moment, and I’m looking forward to celebrating with my team-mates."
So far, Messi has enjoyed a stellar start to the tournament, leading the tournament’s scoring race with five goals in Argentina’s opening two matches. His campaign began with a hat-trick in a first-round victory over Algeria before he added the historic record-breaking brace against Austria. The result also secured La Albiceleste’s place in the Round of 32.
