Lionel Messi becomes all‑time World Cup top scorer as Spain’s Lamine Yamal shines

Lionel Messi (Argentina) broke Miroslav Klose’s record to become the all‑time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history. He scored his 17th tournament goal against Austria in Group J and added a second to reach 18 goals, surpassing the previous record of 16. The match also saw Messi miss a penalty early in the game but recover to net twice, securing a 2‑0 win and Argentina’s place atop the group. Reactions included praise from Brazil legend Ronaldo and comments from Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.

In Spain’s group, 18‑year‑old Lamine Yamal made an immediate impact. Starting against Saudi Arabia, he opened the scoring after 10 minutes, helping Spain to a 4‑0 victory. The goal made Yamal the eighth‑youngest scorer in World Cup history, overtaking Lionel Messi’s previous record for youngest scorer. Brands such as Adidas, Google, Beats by Dre and Oppo featured Yamal in promotional campaigns following his goal, while the player later criticised media hype after Spain’s opening draw with Cape Verde.

Both milestones occurred at matches played in the United States, highlighting the tournament’s global reach and the emergence of a new generation of talent alongside established stars.