Lionel Messi now stands alone atop the men's FIFA World Cup scoring charts, hitting his 17th tournament goal today at Dallas Stadium to hand Argentina a 1-0 lead over Austria. The strike, tucked away in front of a packed AT&T Stadium in Arlington, nudged him past a long-standing record and added yet another dramatic chapter to a career already overflowing with milestones.
The goal came with a little extra drama. After missing a penalty earlier in the first half, Messi met a cross from Facundo Medina and calmly slotted home, according to The Dallas Morning News. AP News reported that the strike was Messi’s 17th at the World Cups and that the moment sparked emotional scenes on the field.
Record Books Rewritten
With that finish, Messi moved to 17 World Cup goals, one ahead of Germany's Miroslav Klose. He had drawn level with Klose thanks to a hat-trick against Algeria earlier in the tournament, per beIN Sports.
Fan Reaction in Arlington
The 38-year-old, just two days shy of his 39th birthday, was swallowed up in a group hug from teammates as AT&T Stadium erupted, AP News reported. Outside the lines, supporters flooded social media while local bars filled with Argentina fans, turning a midday match into a full-on Dallas sports spectacle.
The Chase Continues
France's Kylian Mbappé sits on 14 World Cup goals and is one of the players most likely to chase Messi as the tournament rolls on, according to Sky Sports. For the moment, though, the record is Messi’s alone, and the fact that it was set on American soil is the headline.
Argentina now turns back to its group schedule with a fresh dose of history behind it, and the image of Messi celebrating in Arlington figures to be replayed around the world for days to come.
