Argentina star Lionel Messi has set a record for career goals scored at the World Cup, recording his 17th and 18th World Cup goals against Austria on Monday. Entering the match tied for the all time lead, Messi scored the record goal in the 38th minute, burying a clinical left footed one timer off a pass from team mate Facundo Medina. Messi had a chance to break the mark much earlier in the match, but he missed a penalty kick wide right in the ninth minute. During stoppage time in the second half, Messi added to his record, scoring his fifth goal of the tournament to lead Argentina to a 2-0 win. Messi, who turns 39 this week, entered this World Cup with 13 career goals across five World Cup tournaments which in itself must be a record for sporting longevity . He scored a hat trick in the team’s opener against Algeria to tie with Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 before he set the new mark. Messi seems unstoppable and might very well lead Argentina to it's fourth World Cup, cementing his place as the GOAT of football alongside Pele.
VINAY DWIVEDI, Benaulim
