Sports
World Cup Historic Night: Messi Claims All-Time Goal Record as Argentina and France Secure Round of 32 Berths
Mbappé chases down the history books with a clinical brace for Les Bleus, while Haaland propels Norway forward in a high-stakes group stage finale.
By 19Network Editorial Team · Jun 23, 2026 · 5 min read
On a dramatic evening of World Cup action, Lionel Messi etched his name permanently into the history books by eclipsing Miroslav Klose's all-time tournament scoring record, leading a triumphant night for global football's elite.
PHILADELPHIA — The 2026 FIFA World Cup witnessed a historic evening as Lionel Messi officially became the highest goal-scorer in the tournament's history. The 38-year-old captain rebounded from an early penalty miss to score two goals, leading Argentina to a decisive victory that guaranteed their spot in the highly anticipated Round of 32. Messi entered the tournament tied with Germany’s legendary striker Miroslav Klose at 16 goals, having matched the record with a brilliant hat-trick in Argentina's opening clash against Algeria. Facing intense pressure on Monday, Messi initially spurned a golden opportunity to claim the record outright when his ninth-minute penalty attempt was saved. However, showing his trademark resilience, the talismanic forward found the back of the net twice in the second half, bringing his historic World Cup tally to 18 goals and ensuring Argentina advanced in style. Meanwhile, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, France secured their progress with a commanding 3-0 victory over Iraq. The match was marked by unusual weather conditions, with severe regional thunderstorms forcing a lengthy 130-minute delay during the half-time interval. Despite the…