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World Cup history was made Monday afternoon in Arlington, Texas, when Argentine superstar Lionel Messi became the tournament's all-time leading goal scorer. He netted his 17th and 18th career FIFA World Cup goals in a 2-0 victory over Austria.

With a crowd of more than 70,000 fans at AT&T Stadium, Messi surpassed German legend Miroslav Klose's long-standing record and secured Argentina's place in the knockout stage of the competition.

The record-breaking performance came just two days before Messi's 39th birthday and during an emotional period for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has spoken about concerns for his ailing father back home.

Despite missing an early penalty kick that sailed wide of the goal, Messi recovered in spectacular fashion, delivering another unforgettable performance for Argentina.

Messi Sets New World Cup Scoring Standard

Messi entered Monday's Group J match tied with Germany's Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals across four FIFA World Cups between 2002 and 2014.

In the 38th minute, Messi collected the ball inside the penalty area and calmly fired a left-footed shot into the back of the net to give Argentina a 1-0 lead and become the tournament's all-time leading scorer.

Late in stoppage time, Messi added another goal after seeing his initial attempt blocked by Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. His second effort found its way through several defenders, extending both his personal record and Argentina's lead.

"I was really angry about missing the penalty," Messi said afterward. "But I was able to make up for it."

The victory also extended Argentina's winning streak in World Cup competition to eight matches dating back to its opening loss to Saudi Arabia during the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

A Historic World Cup Achievement for Argentina's Captain

Messi's latest accomplishment follows another milestone earlier in the tournament, when he scored the first World Cup hat trick of his career during Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria in Kansas City.

He has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, joining French striker Just Fontaine and Brazilian legend Jairzinho as the only players to accomplish that feat.

Remarkably, Messi has scored all five of Argentina's goals in the current tournament and has now recorded 12 World Cup goals since turning 35, further strengthening his legacy as one of the greatest players in football history.

Fans packed AT&T Stadium wearing Argentina's iconic white-and-sky-blue striped jerseys bearing Messi's famous No. 10, creating a home-like atmosphere despite the match taking place in North Texas.