German legend Miroslav Klose graciously accepted the news of Lionel Messi breaking his all-time World Cup scoring record, congratulating the Argentine whom he considers the greatest football player in history.
Messi had initially equaled Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals after netting a stunning hat-trick against Algeria. The Inter Miami superstar then shattered the current Nürnberg manager’s record by scoring a brace in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria.
When asked by the media how it felt to lose a record he had held for 12 years, Klose responded:
“I have always said that Messi isn’t that old yet! For me, Leo is the best footballer of all time! Congratulations, champion!”
Klose’s classy reaction comes as no surprise. Before the start of the 2026 World Cup, he had already stated he would be completely fine with Messi breaking his milestone, showering the Argentine maestro with praise. Back then, Klose said: “Messi breaking my record? No problem, records are meant to be broken. Messi is welcome to do it, I am a big fan of his.”
Mbappé Hot on Their Heels
The German icon’s record is under further threat; Kylian Mbappé has also equaled Klose’s 16-goal tally following his recent brace against Iraq. It seems like only a matter of time before the German sniper drops to third place on the World Cup’s all-time top scorers list.
