Overview
- Miroslav Klose, the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 16 goals, said his mark will be surpassed soon by Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappé.
- Klose predicted Messi could overtake the record at the 2026 tournament, with Mbappé the favorite to do so by the following edition if it does not happen this year.
- Messi stands on 13 World Cup goals from four tournaments, leaving him three to tie Klose and four to take the outright lead.
- Mbappé has 12 goals from two World Cups, scoring four in 2018 and eight in 2022, a rate that positions him as a long-term threat to the record.
- Klose noted he still holds other World Cup marks, including the most match wins and being the only player to appear in four semifinals.