​Miroslav Klose, the German soccer icon and FIFA World Cup champion, stood as the tournament’s all-time leading goal scorer for many years, with 16 goals in 24 appearances from 2002 to 2014. He surpassed Ronaldo Nazário’s previous record of 15 goals, set in 2006, during Germany’s victorious run in the 2014 World Cup hosted in Brazil. In recent history, however, the record now belongs to Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, who at 39 years old has increased his World Cup goal tally to 21 goals across 31 appearances. Much of this surge comes from his eight goals in the current World Cup campaign, positioning him as the frontrunner for his first World Cup Golden Boot at what is now his sixth tournament.
Messi’s ascent to the top of the World Cup scorers list began this past summer, when he surpassed Klose’s long-standing mark. The moment came during Argentina’s tournament-opening 3-0 victory over Algeria, with Messi delivering a hat trick at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. In the wake of that historic feat, Klose—now managing 1. FC Nürnberg—spoke about his exchange with Messi, which was facilitated through a former teammate after Scaloni’s side leveled the World Cup record. Klose recalled that Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who had been his Lazio teammate, arranged a call between Messi and himself after the record was equaled. He described the moment as moving and recounted that Messi promised to send him a signed shirt.
Klose’s respectful reaction to Messi’s achievement underscored his enduring admiration for the Argentine star. He commented that Messi is the best player of all time and extended his congratulations to the champion. While some athletes might have viewed the passing of a prestigious record with disappointment, Klose embraced the moment. He stated that it was inevitable the record would be broken someday, and he expressed happiness for Messi, reaffirming his lifelong fandom of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Since Messi’s breakout, other active players have continued to close the gap on Klose’s total. France’s Kylian Mbappé has overtaken the German icon, moving to 19 goals after 19 appearances. Mbappé’s rise, alongside his club teammate at Real Madrid, has shown that the record is within reach for players across generations. England’s Harry Kane has also emerged as a major competitor, tallying 14 World Cup goals after 16 appearances and becoming England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer, surpassing Gary Lineker. Before this summer’s tournament, both Messi and Mbappé already held the World Cup scoring records for their respective nations.
The current race for the World Cup Golden Boot remains intensely competitive as the tournament progresses toward the quarterfinals. Messi leads with eight goals, followed closely by Mbappé and Erling Haaland, who each have seven, while Kane sits just behind them with six. The dynamic landscape of World Cup scorers means the Golden Boot battle could extend into the latter stages of the competition, with a number of players still very much in the hunt. As the tournament unfolds, the focus will remain on Messi’s pursuit of another milestone, and his ongoing impact on Argentina’s campaign will continue to captivate fans worldwide.