Messi Scores Stoppage-time Winner As Argentina Star Becomes World Cup All-time Top Scorer With 18 Goals

Messi scores stoppage-time winner as Argentina star becomes World Cup all-time top scorer with 18 goals Lionel Messi produced another decisive World Cup moment on Monday night, scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner to secure a 2–1 victory for Argentina national football team against Austria national football team, despite earlier missing a penalty and briefly putting his side behind in the match. Playing in his sixth World Cup appearance, Lionel Messi showed resilience after a difficult start, eventually delivering in the 95th minute when he finished through a crowded penalty area deep into stoppage time. The goal took his total World Cup tally to 18, making him the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer. It also marked another defining moment in a record-breaking international career that continues to reshape World Cup history. Messi had earlier endured mixed fortunes in the match, missing a penalty before Argentina fell behind, but he later helped restore momentum for his team with his late intervention. The brace against Austria also moved him to five goals at the ongoing tournament, following a hat trick in Argentina’s 3–0 win over Algeria national football team earlier in the competition. The latest performance adds to his legacy as one of the most influential players in World Cup history, with Argentina continuing their push deep into the knockout stages amid growing expectations of another title challenge.