Lionel Messi has surpassed Miroslav Klose to become the all-time leading goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history [1].
The achievement marks a historic shift in the tournament's record books during the 2026 edition co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. [2]. This milestone solidifies Messi's legacy as the most prolific scorer in the history of the competition, ending the long-standing tenure of the German striker at the top.
Messi reached the record after scoring multiple goals during the current tournament [3]. The surge in scoring has shifted the focus of the competition toward a battle for the top spot in the historical rankings [1].
While Messi now holds the lead, Kylian Mbappé remains a primary challenger. According to reporting from Le Parisien, Mbappé is currently tied with Miroslav Klose for the second-highest total of goals [3]. This puts the French forward in a position to potentially overtake both Klose and Messi if he continues his scoring pace through the remainder of the tournament [3].
FIFA confirmed that Messi has officially moved past Klose at the summit of the rankings [1]. The transition marks the first time the record has changed hands in several years, as Klose's previous mark was long considered one of the most difficult to break in international football [4].
Analysts noted that the 2026 tournament has provided a unique stage for these records to fall. With the expanded format and the presence of established stars, the historical leaderboard has seen more movement than in previous cycles [2].
"Lionel Messi a dépassé Miroslav Klose au sommet du classement des meilleurs buteurs de la Coupe du monde," FIFA said [1].
Mbappé's trajectory continues to be a point of interest for spectators. Because he is tied with Klose, every goal scored by the French international brings him closer to claiming the title of the greatest goal scorer in the history of the World Cup [3].
“Lionel Messi has surpassed Miroslav Klose to become the all-time leading goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history.”
The shift in the World Cup scoring record reflects a generational transition in global football. By surpassing Klose, Messi validates his longevity and impact across multiple tournaments, while Mbappé's proximity to the record suggests that the all-time scoring mark may continue to rise rapidly as the tournament progresses.
