Messi became Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer in 2016. He surpassed Gabriel Batistuta's long-standing record during Argentina's Copa América Centenario semi-final against the United States on 21 June 2016.
Messi scored a first-half free kick in the 3–0 victory, taking his international total to 55 goals and moving past Batistuta's 54. The strike was also Messi's 58th international goal under some statistical systems, depending on which unofficial matches are included, but Argentina's official record placed him beyond Batistuta.
The achievement came during a difficult period for Messi and Argentina. The team had lost the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 Copa América final, and the 2016 tournament represented another chance to end a long trophy drought. Messi scored five goals in that Copa América, though Argentina ultimately lost the final to Chile on penalties.
A common mix-up is confusing this record with Messi becoming Barcelona's or La Liga's leading scorer. Those were separate milestones achieved at different times.