Arlington: Lionel Messi has once again rewritten football history, becoming only the third player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive matches. The historic milestone was reached during Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup Group J fixture against Austria in Dallas, Texas.

The Argentine captain has now entered an elite club alongside France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho. Fontaine achieved his scoring streak during the 1958 tournament, whilst Jairzinho accomplished the feat during Brazil's iconic 1970 title-winning campaign.

ALSO READ: Messi stars in Dallas: Argentina cruise to 2-0 win over Austria

Messi’s remarkable run began during Argentina's triumphant 2022 campaign in Qatar, where he netted in four consecutive knockout matches against Australia, the Netherlands, Croatia, and France. He carried that scintillating form into the 2026 tournament, scoring a hat-trick in La Albiceleste's 3-0 opening victory over Algeria before finding the back of the net against Austria.

ALSO READ: Messi Misses Penalty: Record-Breaking Bid Stalls Against Austria

The moment of history arrived in the 38th minute of the match. Having missed an early penalty in the ninth minute, the 38-year-old maestro redeemed himself by sweeping home a first-time finish from a Facundo Medina cross, beating Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

ALSO READ: Lionel Messi Becomes All-Time Leading World Cup Goalscorer

Beyond matching the consecutive games record, the strike carried monumental historical weight. The goal was Messi’s 17th career World Cup goal, officially making him the outright highest goalscorer in men's FIFA World Cup history. The finish saw him surpass Germany's Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 goals.

ALSO READ: Argentina Extends Historic World Cup Half-Time Streak

The defending world champions are aiming to become just the third men's team in history to retain the World Cup trophy, matching Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962). With his sixth World Cup appearance and a record-extending 28th tournament match under his belt, Messi's latest masterclass keeps Argentina firmly on course for the knockout stages.