Lionel Messi has etched his name further into football history by becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup competition, netting his 17th tournament goal during Argentina's match against Austria.

The record-breaking strike moves Messi ahead of every player to have ever appeared at a World Cup, cementing his status as one of the most decorated and prolific performers the tournament has ever seen.

Argentina's captain delivered what was described as a brilliant finish to claim the historic milestone, adding yet another chapter to an already extraordinary international career.

Messi had previously shared or approached the record across multiple World Cup campaigns, steadily accumulating goals at football's biggest stage throughout his career with the national team.

The achievement underlines the scale of Messi's impact on the global game. No other player in the tournament's history has found the net as many times across World Cup appearances.