Miroslav Klose has held the record for the most goals in World Cup history with 16 goals, a feat achieved over four tournaments from 2002 to 2014. However, he foresees a shift in this record, stating he believes that his milestone is likely to be surpassed at the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Klose sees Lionel Messi as a strong candidate to break this record, as Messi currently stands at 13 World Cup goals. This places him just three goals shy of matching Klose's total and four goals away from establishing a new record.
The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams in 2026 signals an increase in the number of matches played, thereby enhancing the likelihood of records being challenged. Klose expressed confidence that either Messi could achieve this during the 2026 tournament or that Kylian Mbappé could take a shot at it in the subsequent World Cup.
Mbappé, having scored nine goals in his World Cup career, is another significant contender for Klose's record. He's just four goals behind Messi and seven behind Klose. Having made a notable impact during both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, including scoring a hat trick in the final against Argentina in the latter edition, his ability to find the net makes him a worthy successor to Klose's legacy.
Klose's record holds substantial importance in the realm of football, capturing both individual accomplishment and team dynamics. In total, he made 24 World Cup appearances, achieving his 16 goals during this period. Prior to Klose's historic performance, the record was held by Brazilian Ronaldo, with Gerd Müller in close pursuit. As the countdown to the 2026 tournament begins, both Messi and Mbappé continue to vie for a chance to etch their names in history by surpassing Klose's legendary record.