Jakarta, ThedailyID — Lionel Messi admitted he was feeling exhausted after making FIFA World Cup history by becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. The Argentina captain reached the milestone after scoring twice in his country’s victory over Austria.
Messi’s brace took his World Cup tally to 18 goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record of 16 goals. The victory also secured Argentina’s place in the Round of 32 after winning their opening two Group J matches.
Despite the historic achievement, the 38-year-old said fatigue was beginning to take its toll.
“I’m tired,” Messi said after the match. “But I’m happy because we achieved an important win and reached the next round.”
Messi praised his teammates for their performance and said qualification was the team’s main objective. He added that personal records were secondary to helping Argentina defend its World Cup title.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has enjoyed another remarkable tournament. He has now scored five goals in Argentina’s opening two matches and continues to lead the team’s attack.
Messi’s World Cup record has become even more impressive considering his longevity. He has now featured in multiple editions of the tournament and also holds the record for the most World Cup appearances and minutes played.
Argentina entered the tournament as defending champions after lifting the trophy in Qatar in 2022. Many questioned whether Messi would return for another World Cup, but he ultimately decided to continue his international career.
With Argentina already through to the knockout stage, Messi and his teammates will now shift their focus to maintaining momentum before the elimination rounds begin.
