Germany’s all-time leading scorer, Miroslav Klose, says he is at peace with the prospect of his 16‑goal World Cup record being broken in 2026 – and would be delighted if Lionel Messi is the man to do it.
The current coaching head of 1. FC Nürnberg made the admission in a wide‑ranging interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, where he also spoke warmly of his friendship with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, forged during their time together at Lazio. “I expect my record to be broken in this tournament,” the 47‑year‑old said. He went on to add: “And I expect Argentina and France to go far. That’s perfectly fine, Messi is welcome to do it. I’m a huge Messi fan, always have been. Messi is a genius.”
‘I knew the record was going to fall’
Klose’s 16 strikes were spread across four World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014). Behind him in the all‑time standings sit Brazil’s Ronaldo (15 goals), Germany’s Gerd Müller (14) and now Messi (13), with France’s Kylian Mbappé close behind on 12. The expansion of the 2026 tournament to 48 teams and 104 matches – up from 64 in previous editions – means finalists could potentially play more games than ever before, creating extra opportunities for goals. “I knew the record was going to fall one day,” Klose said. “I’m sure it will be broken soon. Either Messi does it at this World Cup, or at the latest, Mbappé does it at the next one”.
The former Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen striker also pointed to a shift in the modern game that favours his successors. “During my career I wasn’t the regular penalty‑taker – that circumstance may have increased my number of goals,” he noted, contrasting his own experience with the spot‑kick duties that fall to both Messi and Mbappé.
However, Klose was quick to stress that one of his other feats may stand the test of time. “At least I will keep my record of four semi‑finals for now,” he said. He is the only player in World Cup history to have appeared in four last‑four matches since 1930.
A friendship born in Rome
Beyond the goal‑scoring debate, Klose offered a rare glimpse into the personal bond he shares with Scaloni. The two were teammates at Lazio between 2011 and 2013, when Scaloni – a right‑back by trade – was in the final phase of his playing career. “I played with him at Lazio, and he showed me around the city a bit back then,” Klose recalled. “We’re good friends.”
The feeling appears to be mutual. Scaloni has since steered Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, masterminding the nation’s third title with a tactical approach that drew widespread praise. Klose, who has long since moved into coaching, finished his own playing days in Rome. “Lazio is the club that I chose to end my professional career, and I made the correct decision because I gained several important things,” he said in a previous interview. “The first is friendship – I encountered wonderful people, genuine friends that I formed a bond with that would remain in effect for the rest of my life”. He also credited Scaloni and former Lazio captain Senad Lulić with helping him find a healthier perspective on the game, recalling how they encouraged him to enjoy life without the relentless pressure that had marked his time in Germany. The enduring nature of that bond was evident in 2019, when the group reunited for a dinner in Rome after a Europa League match.
From Poland to World Cup immortality
Klose’s own journey to the top of the world game was anything but straightforward. Born in Opole, Poland, he moved to West Germany at the age of seven. Rejected by a local sports school for being too slight, he rose through the lower divisions before emerging at 1. FC Kaiserslautern. He went on to score 71 goals in 137 international appearances for Germany, winning the World Cup in 2014 and claiming the tournament’s Golden Boot in 2006. At club level, he won two Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich before helping Lazio lift the Coppa Italia in 2013. By the time he retired in 2016, he had scored 63 goals and provided 35 assists in 171 appearances for the Biancocelesti.
Now, as the 2026 World Cup prepares to kick off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, Klose appears genuinely content to watch from the sidelines. “I’m a mad Messi fan and have been ever since,” he repeated. “Therefore, I keep my fingers crossed for him, despite knowing Mbappé is one of the best”.
– Additional reporting from agencies
