Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe: Who Will Break Miroslav Klose's World Cup Goalscoring Record?

Prior to the 2026 World Cup group stage, Messi had 13 goals, while Kylian Mbappe had 12. This means that with just a few more goals, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe could completely change the history of the biggest football tournament on the planet.

Miroslav Klose – A World Cup Goalscorer Legend

Before discussing the chances of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe , it's necessary to mention the record holder. Miroslav Klose scored a total of 16 goals across four World Cups from 2002 to 2014.

The German forward is renowned for his superb positioning and incredible consistency in big matches. His record was completed at the 2014 World Cup when Germany defeated Brazil 7-1 in the semi-finals.

The Greatest Strikers in World Cup History

Ranking Player Nation Goal

1 Miroslav Klose Virtue 16

2 Ronaldo Brazil 15

3 Gerd Müller Virtue 14

4 Lionel Messi Hero 13

5 Just Fontaine France 13

6 Kylian Mbappe France 12

Lionel Messi's World Cup Journey

In the history of modern football, very few players have had a World Cup journey as long and memorable as Lionel Messi's. From his debut in Germany in 2006 to winning the title in Qatar in 2022, he has experienced every emotion imaginable.

World Cup 2006

Messi scored his first World Cup goal in the victory against Serbia and Montenegro. At that time, he was just a young talent beginning to make a name for himself.

Goals: 1

World Cup 2010

Despite being Barcelona's brightest star, Messi failed to score any goals at the 2010 South Africa Games.

Goals: 0

World Cup 2014

Messi scored four goals and led Argentina to the final. This tournament marked his true maturation on the World Cup stage .

Goals: 4

World Cup 2018

Argentina faced many difficulties and Messi only managed to score one goal against Nigeria.

Goals: 1

World Cup 2022

Qatar 2022 was the pinnacle of Messi's career. He scored 7 goals and helped Argentina win their third World Cup title in history.

Goals: 7

Messi's World Cup Achievements

World Cup Goal

2006 1

2010 0

2014 4

2018 1

2022 7

Total 13

Kylian Mbappe – The World Cup Goal-Scoring Machine

While Messi needed five World Cups to score 13 goals, Kylian Mbappe only needed two appearances to rack up 12.

This is why many experts believe that Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe will create the most exciting rivalry in World Cup scoring history .

World Cup 2018

Kylian Mbappe scored four goals and helped France win the World Cup. He also became the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pelé.

Goals: 4

World Cup 2022

In Qatar, Kylian Mbappe exploded with 8 goals and won the Golden Boot. In particular, his hat-trick against Argentina in the final cemented his place in World Cup history .

Goals: 8

Kylian Mbappe's World Cup Achievements

World Cup Goal

2018 4

2022 8

Total 12

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe: Who Has a Greater Chance of Breaking Records?

In terms of distance, Messi only needs three more goals to equal Klose's record. However, at 39 years old, his physical fitness will be a major challenge for him at the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe is at the peak of his career. With his incredible goal-scoring record at World Cups, the French striker is considered the strongest candidate to surpass the 16-goal mark.

Regardless of the final outcome, the race between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe will undoubtedly become one of the most memorable highlights of the 2026 World Cup .

Conclude

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are on the verge of making history at the 2026 World Cup. Messi currently has 13 goals, while Kylian Mbappe has 12. With a gap not too far from Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals, fans worldwide will be watching every match to see if one of these two superstars can become the greatest goalscorer in World Cup history.