Lionel Messi becomes World Cup all-time top goalscorer with brace against Austria

[p]Despite missing an early penalty, the 38-year-old finished in typical [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a] fashion, slotting home for his 17th World Cup goal, moving ahead of Miroslav Klose, who held the record since 2014. He then scored late in the game for his 18th World Cup goal, capping off a remarkable evening as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] won [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/austria-naHiWdnt/?mid=Cpq2Y2FE"]2-0[/a] to qualify for the knockout stage.[/p][p]Messi, who turns 39 in two days, has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches.[/p][image alt="Messi goal sequence vs Austria" id="155a4d3a-f41e-49d0-bafd-d4a0a3e042bf" credit-line="IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters / Maria Lysaker / Opta by StatsPerform" guid="4e18d797-4476-4eae-a3c3-457ae4d82515" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]The Argentine had scored a hat-trick in his side's opening 3-0 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/algeria/nc87N1BR/"]Algeria[/a] to go level with Klose. [/p][p]Messi is also one assist away from becoming the leading assist-maker in World Cup history, currently tied with fellow Argentine great Diego Maradona (8).[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]