18 World Cup Goals: The Record Lionel Messi Broke After Weeks Of Private Pain

Holy smokes, you guys! If you didn't catch it, Lionel Messi, the absolute legend, just rewrote the history books in the World Cup, and honestly, the way he did it after what he's been going through? It's just wild. The man, a whole 38 years old, dropped his 17th and 18th career World Cup goals against Austria on Monday, June 22nd, solidifying his spot as the all-time leading scorer in the tournament's history. This is huge, period.

He's Done It: The New GOAT of World Cup Scoring

Can we just take a minute? Eighteen goals in the World Cup. Think about that for a second. Messi started that match tied with Germany's Miroslav Klose, a name synonymous with World Cup scoring. And what did he do? He went out there and delivered. Yeah, he missed a penalty kick early in the ninth minute, which, c'mon, made us all hold our breath. But the dude is clutch. He snagged the record-breaking goal in the 38th minute, a moment that's gonna live forever. And then, just to put an exclamation point on it, he scored his fifth goal of the tournament during stoppage time in the second half, sealing a 2-0 win for Argentina. Talk about earning your stripes. After the game, he called breaking the record "special," which, understatement of the year, right? He said he just enjoys playing and having a good time on the pitch, even if that penalty didn't go his way. He even laughed when he said he was "tired, low on energy" and couldn't recall his favorite of the 18 goals. The man's literally making history and he's just like, "Nah, can't think right now, too t

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ired." What a legend. This is the guy who started this World Cup with 13 career goals across five tournaments, then kicked things off with a hat trick against Algeria, tying Klose, before finally blowing past him. And get this, he turns 39 on Wednesday. What a week to be Lionel Messi!

More Than Just Goals: The Story Behind The Tears

But here's the kicker, the part that really makes you feel for the guy. Remember that earlier game where he got visibly emotional? We all saw him wiping tears away with his jersey. Turns out, it wasn't about soccer at all. He later revealed he'd been through "difficult days," struggling with "something totally unrelated to football." He wouldn't go into details, which is totally fair, but he shared that he was "grateful to the entire delegation and my teammates because they were always by my side, giving me a lot of strength to help me get through it." Coach Lionel Scaloni was just as floored, saying he was "at a loss for words about Leo," calling him "incredible." It just makes you appreciate the hustle even more, knowing what he was battling off the field while still delivering pure magic on it. His wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three sons, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, were there in Kansas City watching him make history, which makes you think, that support system must be everything. What's next for Messi and Argentina? We're talking World Cup, every game is a battle. With this record under his belt, and the personal strength he's shown, you just know he's going to keep pushing. He's playing in his sixth World Cup, still delivering at 38 years old, truly something special to witness.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.