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While everyone circled Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the man standing in the way of Argentine hero Lionel Messi becoming the all-time leading World Cup scorer, Brazilian legend Marta was actually the player to beat.
It’s true that Klose held the all-time men’s World Cup scoring record with 16 goals across four tournaments, which Messi tied with a hat trick in Argentina‘s 3-0 win over Algeria to open their 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup run last week.
But Marta’s 17 goals across six women’s World Cups with Brazil was the all-time record for men or women at the World Cup.
Messi cleared both of them when Argentina met Austria at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday afternoon.
Messi, in his sixth World Cup, buried his 17th all-time World Cup goal in the 38th minute to surpass Klose and made it a brace in the waning moments to secure a 2-0 victory and bring his all-time total to 18.
Marta reacted by reposting Ge TV’s commemoration of Messi’s 18th goal to her Instagram Story alongside three clapping emojis.
Brazil’s forward #10 Marta gestures ahead of the international women’s friendly football match between Brazil and the United States at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 6, 2026, ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. (Photo by Miguel SCHINCARIOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Marta and Messi have been peers for over 15 years. Marta won five straight FIFA Women’s Player of the Year awards from 2006 to 2010, and Messi collected four straight FIFA Men’s Player of the Year awards from 2009 to 2012. Marta has won the award six times overall — and now FIFA has an award named after her. Messi has eight to his name.
But Marta has never won the women’s World Cup, while Messi and Argentina look poised to become the first repeat men’s World Cup champions since Marta’s beloved Brazil did so in 1958 and 1962.
Messi’s five goals in the first two matches of this World Cup have sent Argentina through to the knockout stage.
“We’ve already given people several joys, but we’ll try to give them more,” Messi said after beating Austria, per Reuters. “The important thing is the qualification, winning all the matches is always in our plans.”
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It’s true that Klose held the all-time men’s World Cup scoring record with 16 goals across four tournaments, which Messi tied with a hat trick in Argentina‘s 3-0 win over Algeria to open their 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup run last week.
But Marta’s 17 goals across six women’s World Cups with Brazil was the all-time record for men or women at the World Cup.
Messi cleared both of them when Argentina met Austria at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday afternoon.
Messi, in his sixth World Cup, buried his 17th all-time World Cup goal in the 38th minute to surpass Klose and made it a brace in the waning moments to secure a 2-0 victory and bring his all-time total to 18.
Marta reacted by reposting Ge TV’s commemoration of Messi’s 18th goal to her Instagram Story alongside three clapping emojis.
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Brazil’s forward #10 Marta gestures ahead of the international women’s friendly football match between Brazil and the United States at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 6, 2026, ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. (Photo by Miguel SCHINCARIOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Marta and Messi have been peers for over 15 years. Marta won five straight FIFA Women’s Player of the Year awards from 2006 to 2010, and Messi collected four straight FIFA Men’s Player of the Year awards from 2009 to 2012. Marta has won the award six times overall — and now FIFA has an award named after her. Messi has eight to his name.
But Marta has never won the women’s World Cup, while Messi and Argentina look poised to become the first repeat men’s World Cup champions since Marta’s beloved Brazil did so in 1958 and 1962.
Messi’s five goals in the first two matches of this World Cup have sent Argentina through to the knockout stage.
“We’ve already given people several joys, but we’ll try to give them more,” Messi said after beating Austria, per Reuters. “The important thing is the qualification, winning all the matches is always in our plans.”
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