Lionel Messi opened the 2026 World Cup with a hat trick against Algeria, tying Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 World Cup goals. On Monday, the 38-year-old Argentine captain broke that record with a brace against Austria in a 2-0 win at Dallas Stadium, pushing his tally to 18 goals across six World Cup tournaments.
Messi’s performance prompted sports figures from across the football world to take to social media to pay tribute, with former NFL players and analysts reacting to the soccer superstar’s greatness.
Messi Bounces Back From Penalty Miss to Make World Cup History in Dallas
The record-breaking night almost started on a sour note for Messi. After VAR awarded Argentina a seventh-minute penalty following a foul on Lautaro Martinez, Messi dragged his effort wide of the right post for his third missed penalty in World Cup history.
However, Messi found the breakthrough in the 38th minute, with a clinical left-footed finish to give Argentina a 1-0 lead and claim the all-time record with 17 World Cup goals.
Austria pushed hard in the second half, but Argentina held firm, and Messi sealed the result in the 90th plus fifth minute with his 18th World Cup goal.
The brace gave Messi five goals in two games, arguably the best start to a World Cup by any player defending a title. Argentina has now won both group-stage matches and secured its place in the Round of 32 with a game to spare.
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Here’s how the NFL world reacted to Messi’s two-goal performance against Austria:
“Lionel Messi is the Michael Jordan of Football,” Robert Griffin III wrote on X. “No one compares to him.”
This 🐐 said he was retiring *3 World Cups ago*.
There’s simply never been anyone like him since Pelé, and he might just be the best there’s ever been.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) June 22, 2026
“World class goal from Messi,” PFT Commenter said about the first goal. “Way better then if he broke it on a penalty earlier.”
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“MESSI, GOOOOOAAAALLLLLLL FOR THE ALL-TIME WORLD CUP RECORD! WHAT A PASS, WHAT A LIGHTNING SHOT. WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO BEHOLD,” Skip Bayless wrote on X.
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) June 22, 2026
“MESSI IS THE (expletive) GOAT,” Streamer Janky Rondo wrote. “END THE RONALDO DEBATE.”
Pat McAfee reacted to Messi’s second goal and wrote, “THAT’S LOU MESSI FUTBALL”
Messi is unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/0Yg93LKGKK
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 22, 2026
“This Messi guy is pretty good,” FS1’s Danny Parkins wrote as a light nod to the Argentine superstar’s greatness.
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CBS Sports’ NFL insider Jonathan Jones said, “Messi is legend.”
Messi 🐐
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) June 22, 2026
Messi’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar and now this record-breaking start in 2026 have arguably settled the greatest-of-all-time debate for the majority of fans and pundits.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 41-years-old, still has a path back into the conversation if Portugal can win the tournament, but that outcome grew more unlikely after a frustrating 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their first game.
A potential Messi-Ronaldo knockout-stage meeting might not do much to put the GOAT debate to rest, but it would give the world one final chapter between two of the best players in the sport’s history.
As we approach the knockout rounds, all eyes remain on Messi and whether Argentina’s captain can add to his record before the tournament ends.
