Germany legend Miroslav Klose, who holds the World Cup's all-time scoring record with 16 goals, has expressed his openness to Lionel Messi breaking his tally.
Klose, a World Cup history-maker, believes his record is vulnerable and could be surpassed in the upcoming 2026 tournament. He specifically highlighted Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe as strong contenders to achieve this feat.
The expansion of the World Cup to include more matches in the 2026 edition is seen by Klose as a significant factor that will create more opportunities for players to score and potentially break records.
Klose conveyed his deep admiration for Messi, stating that he is a 'huge fan' and would be genuinely pleased if the Argentine maestro were to surpass his long-standing goal record.
Currently, Lionel Messi stands at 13 World Cup goals, just three shy of Klose's record. Kylian Mbappe is also close, with 12 goals to his name, making him another strong candidate.
Adding a personal touch, Klose revealed that he played alongside Argentina's current coach, Lionel Scaloni, during their time at the Italian club Lazio.
Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, are set to begin their title defense against Algeria. This opening match presents an immediate chance for Messi to add to his World Cup goal count and inch closer to Klose's impressive record.
The prospect of Messi, arguably one of the greatest players of all time, breaking another significant football record has generated considerable excitement among fans worldwide.
