Lionel Messi becomes World Cup all-time leading goalscorer – how has he stayed at the top?

When Lionel Messi swept home a trademark left-footed curler in Argentina’s second World Cup match against Austria, he was not just getting his team off to a strong start.

The 38-year-old was also making history, becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer, and demonstrating that he still lays claim to being the king of world football.

And there was more to come as Messi fired home his second goal of the game from a tight angle past two defenders to wrap up a 2-0 victory and send the holders into the last 32.

Messi is enjoying a scintillating start to the tournament as Argentina defend their title.

With a hat-trick in the opening game, two goals and the record broken in the second, and a third game against Jordan to come, he is a strong contender for the Golden Boot, awarded to the top goalscorer at the finals – one individual prize he has never won.

Messi has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, a feat only achieved by two other players – France’s Just Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970.

No player has ever scored in seven straight matches.

The Inter Miami forward has also created the most chances in World Cup history – he is one assist away from providing more than any other player since records began in 1966, according to Opta.

He currently shares that record with his idol, Maradona.

A new generation of superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Jr may already be making their own marks on the tournament, but if they want to claim the crown, they are going to have to outperform Messi.

So how exactly can Messi – who turns 39 on Wednesday and has been playing in Major League Soccer (MLS) for three years – still be delivering rampant, raucous performances on the biggest stage of all?