24/06/2026 03:10 - Deportes
On June 24, 2026, Lionel Messi turns 39 years old in the middle of a special celebration: he has become the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 18 goals, surpassing records that once seemed unreachable.
The milestone was reached during Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria in the second round of Group J at the 2026 World Cup, held in Dallas. Messi scored both goals—one at the 38th minute of the first half and another late in the match—despite missing a penalty in the 9th minute.
Messi also matched a record that only two players in history had achieved: scoring in six consecutive World Cup matches.
This mark was previously held exclusively by:
Now, the Rosario-born star joins this elite group of world football legends.
| Team | Points | Goal Difference | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 6 | +5 | Qualified (1st) |
| Austria | 3 | -2 | Playing |
| Algeria | 3 | -3 | Playing |
| Jordan | 0 | 0 | Eliminated |
Argentina vs Jordan
Date: June 27, 2026
Time: 22:00 ET
Venue: Dallas
Argentina vs 2nd Group H
Date: Friday, July 3, 2026
Time: 19:00 local
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Spain: 4 pts
Uruguay: 2 pts
Cape Verde: 2 pts
Saudi Arabia: 0 pts
Head coach Lionel Scaloni announced he will rotate players in the upcoming match against Jordan, as Argentina has already secured first place in the group.
One confirmed absence is Cuti Romero, who will be rested after suffering a knock to his right knee against Austria. The defender's condition is not serious, but medical staff prefer to rest him as a precaution.
Note: The new FIFA 2026 tiebreaker system prioritizes head-to-head results between teams, followed by goal difference. This changes the traditional tiebreaker format.
The 2026 World Cup is being held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, marking the first tournament with 48 participating teams. Argentina aims to defend the title won in Qatar 2022. The team defeated Algeria 3-0 in their opener and Austria 2-0 in the second round.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
