Miroslav Klose believes his all-time World Cup goal-scoring record will fall at the 2026 tournament. The German legend holds the mark with 16 goals but expects Lionel Messi to surpass it during the upcoming competition co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Messi currently has 13 World Cup goals. He needs just four more to claim the outright record. The 2026 World Cup expands to 48 teams, creating additional match opportunities for advancing nations. Klose stated he is certain the record will break soon, naming either Messi or Kylian Mbappé as the likely successor.
Mbappé sits at nine World Cup goals following his hat trick in the 2022 final. While the French star remains a future contender, Messi’s recent form makes him the immediate favorite. Messi scored seven goals during Argentina's 2022 championship run, demonstrating the consistency required to challenge Klose’s benchmark established across four tournaments from 2002 to 2014.
The 2026 World Cup begins in June and marks the first North American hosting since 1994. This edition represents FIFA’s most significant structural change in decades. With only three goals separating Messi from tying the record, Klose views the milestone as inevitable given the expanded schedule and Messi's proven elite performance.