Miroslav Klose, the man who holds the most coveted individual record in international football, thinks his reign is about to end. And he’s surprisingly fine with it.
In an interview with German outlet Bild, Klose expressed his belief that his 16-goal World Cup record will be surpassed at the 2026 tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. His preferred successor: Lionel Messi.
The numbers tell the story
Messi currently sits on 13 World Cup goals, meaning he needs just three to tie Klose and four to claim the record outright. The 2026 World Cup expands to 48 teams, which means more group stage matches and, for teams that advance deep into the bracket, potentially more games than any previous edition of the tournament.
“I’m sure my goal-scoring record at the World Cup will be broken soon. Either Messi will do it at this World Cup, or at the latest, Kylian Mbappé in the next one.”
