When numbers become poetry, sport transcends its limits. Lionel Messi reached that poetic moment last Monday in Arlington, Texas, capturing the world’s attention as he rewrote history at age 38.
With a perfectly curled left-foot finish in the 38th minute against Austria and a determined, scrappy rebound goal deep in stoppage time, Messi became the highest goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history. He surpassed not just men’s records but all previous scorers, including Germany’s Miroslav Klose and Brazil’s Marta. His 17th and 18th tournament goals propelled him into territory no player, male or female, has ever occupied before.
He is 38 years old, and he is accomplishing this right now.
From Hat-Trick to Historic Record
The record-breaking journey began before most Canadian fans had settled into their World Cup viewing routines. In Argentina’s tournament opener against Algeria on June 16, Messi delivered his first World Cup hat-trick, tying Klose’s long-standing record of 16 goals. At 38 years and 357 days, Messi became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in World Cup history, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo who was 33 when he scored against Spain in 2018.
Six days later against Austria, Messi repeated the feat. He entered that match with 16 goals and missed a penalty in the ninth minute, briefly denying him the outright record. Yet that miss only heightened the drama of what followed. He curled home from a cutback in the 38th minute and added a late second in the 2-0 victory, reaching an all-time total of 18 goals.
Five goals across two games. Eighteen goals across six World Cups. The record now belongs to him.
Understanding the Magnitude
To grasp the scale of Messi’s achievement, one must consider the career that led here. Messi scored his first World Cup goal on June 16, 2006, at age 18 against Serbia and Montenegro. Twenty years later, he continues to break records as the first player to appear in six different editions of a men’s World Cup.
He is also the second man in World Cup history to score four or more goals in three different tournament editions, after Miroslav Klose who did so in 2002, 2006, and 2010. Remarkably, he has joined Roger Milla as the only men to score four or more goals in a single World Cup while aged 38 or older.
His teammates have lost words. Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister said after the Austria win, “If anyone thought this group was better off without Leo, today it became clear that Leo is the most important of them all.”
The Mbappé Pursuit
The record may not remain safe for long. Kylian Mbappé now holds 16 career World Cup goals, sitting second all-time behind only Messi’s 18. The French captain remains deeply involved in this tournament, and with France appearing as genuine contenders, the gap could narrow quickly.
For now, Messi leads, but the question remains how many more he can add before his final World Cup concludes.
Why It Matters for Fans
Beyond the spectacle, there is a practical reason for soccer fans to follow Messi’s form closely. Argentina are potential opponents deep in this tournament. The defending world champions have won all their group matches, conceded zero goals, and appear as the team to beat.
If Canada navigates through the round of 32 and beyond, Messi and Argentina could be waiting. Understanding what they face—a 38-year-old playing the soccer of his life surrounded by world-class talent—is not merely interesting but essential.
Watch tonight’s Argentina vs. Jordan at 10 p.m. ET on TSN. Messi will almost certainly be on the pitch. If recent form guides us, history may be made again.