Overview
- Miroslav Klose, the World Cup’s all‑time leading scorer with 16 goals, predicts his tally will be surpassed at the 2026 tournament.
- Lionel Messi sits on 13 World Cup goals and Kylian Mbappé has 12, positioning both as prime candidates to overtake Klose.
- The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico runs from June 11 to July 19 and expands to 48 teams with up to eight matches per team.
- Klose, now coaching 1. FC Nürnberg, says he is a strong admirer of Messi and would like the Argentine to break the record.
- While bracing for his scoring mark to fall, Klose still owns the unique feat of four World Cup semifinal appearances, and Messi already holds the record for most World Cup matches at 26 with a chance to set the appearances mark with a sixth tournament.