Miroslav Klose: ‘I would be happy if it were Messi’ as World Cup scoring record faces imminent threat
Miroslav Klose says he expects his all-time World Cup goals record to be broken soon and that he’d be ‘really happy’ if Lionel Messi is the one to overtake him — with Kylian Mbappé also closing in.
Klose predicts his World Cup goals record will fall — and wants Messi to take it over.
Miroslav Klose says he expects his all-time World Cup goalscoring record to be broken soon and revealed he would be “really happy if it were Messi.” The former Germany striker made the comments in an interview reported by Sport Bild and relayed by World Soccer Talk on June 5, 2026, as Lionel Messi heads into what is widely viewed as his final World Cup campaign and Kylian Mbappé continues to close the gap on the historic mark.
Who, what and why it matters: Klose’s 16 World Cup goals set across four tournaments have stood as the benchmark of the modern era. According to the source, Messi has 13 World Cup goals across five tournaments and needs three to equal Klose, while Mbappé has 12 goals from two tournaments and is also a clear threat. With both superstars active in the international game, Klose accepts the record’s days are numbered — a notable moment given his place in World Cup history.
Why it matters
Records and milestones shape the narrative of major tournaments. A World Cup all-time top scorer is a legacy-defining accolade; Klose’s comment that he would be pleased for Messi to overtake him adds a rare personal perspective from the man who set the mark. The approaching editions of the tournament therefore carry added intrigue beyond team success: fans and media will be watching individual goal tallies closely as Argentina and France prepare for forthcoming World Cup action.
Klose on Messi, Mbappé and the inevitability of records falling
As reported, Klose said he is “totally relaxed” about his record and that he believes it will be surpassed either by Messi at the current World Cup or, if not then, by Mbappé in a subsequent tournament. He praised Messi’s quality and indicated a personal preference for the Argentine captain to assume the record. The remarks underline Klose’s acceptance of football’s changing landscape, where elite attackers with sustained international appearances can challenge long-standing marks.
The source also reported that Klose highlighted another tournament milestone in his name: the most World Cup match victories, listed at 17. According to the same coverage, Messi has 16 career World Cup wins and could level that figure with a single victory in Argentina’s upcoming group-stage fixtures.
Context and immediate implications
The facts reported here focus on player goal totals and match-win tallies rather than team selection, injuries, or fixture results. Klose’s comments add human interest to the statistical subplot surrounding the World Cup: whether Messi can add the necessary goals during Argentina’s group and knockout matches, or whether Mbappé’s continued scoring across tournaments will carry him past the German striker in future editions.
- Klose’s World Cup goals total: 16 (across four World Cups) — source: Sport Bild via World Soccer Talk.
- Lionel Messi’s reported World Cup goals total: 13 (across five World Cups) — needs three to equal Klose — source: World Soccer Talk.
- Kylian Mbappé’s reported World Cup goals total: 12 (across two World Cups) — source: World Soccer Talk.
- Klose holds reported record for World Cup match victories: 17; Messi has 16 and could level this with one more team win — source: World Soccer Talk.
What happens next
The immediate next steps from a narrative standpoint are straightforward: track Argentina’s and France’s progress at the World Cup and monitor Messi’s and Mbappé’s individual goal tallies. If Messi scores three times during the tournament, he will equal Klose’s mark; further goals would push him clear. Mbappé remains a strong candidate to challenge the record in upcoming tournaments given his scoring rate and age.
Because this draft relies on a secondary report of an interview, editorial verification is recommended. Confirm the direct Sport Bild interview for Klose’s exact wording and context and cross-check the goal and match-win totals with official FIFA statistics before publication.