16 Goals — A Career in Numbers
Miroslav Klose scored 16 World Cup goals across four tournaments from 2002 to 2014. It took him 24 matches. For 12 years, the record stood as seemingly untouchable. Then came Lionel Messi — who reached 16 goals in his fifth tournament, at 38 years old, with a hat-trick against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16, 2026.
Messi World Cup Goal by Goal
2006 (Germany): 1 goal. A teenager, barely playing. Against Serbia and Montenegro. His first World Cup goal.
2010 (South Africa): 0 goals. His most difficult World Cup. Argentina eliminated in the quarter-finals by Germany. Messi silenced by tactical marking throughout.
2014 (Brazil): 4 goals. Argentina reached the Final. Messi won the Golden Ball despite not scoring in the Final. 5 goals total at this point.
2018 (Russia): 1 goal. Argentina eliminated in the Round of 16. The tournament Messi briefly retired from the national team after. 6 goals total.
2022 (Qatar): 7 goals. The greatest tournament of his career. The Final hat-trick from Mbappe forced extra time — but Messi lifted the trophy. 13 goals total.
2026 (USA/Canada/Mexico): 3 goals so far (all against Algeria). 16 total. The record equalled.
What Happens Next
One more goal makes Messi the sole World Cup scoring record holder. Argentina have at least two more group matches and — if they progress as expected — knockout matches beyond. The question is not whether Messi will score again. The question is when.
What Klose Said
Miroslav Klose has repeatedly said he hopes Messi breaks the record — that a record set to be broken by the greatest player in history is the greatest tribute the record could receive. Football is fortunate to have both men.
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