Klose expects Messi or Mbappe to break his record in the World Cup

Retired German star Miroslav Klose, the World Cup top scorer, expects that his record in the tournament may be broken in the next edition in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“I’m sure that my World Cup goals record will be broken soon. Either Lionel Messi will do it this year or Kylian Mbappe in the coming years,” Klose told the weekly newspaper Sport Bild today.
The former Germany national team striker, who set the current record on his way to winning the 2014 World Cup with his country, pointed out that Messi and Mbappe have the advantage of taking penalty kicks, which he did not take throughout his international career.
Klose tops the list of all-time World Cup top scorers with 16 goals, followed by Brazilian star Ronaldo (15 goals), then German legend Gerd Muller (14 goals), then Messi and Frenchman Just Fontaine (13 goals), and finally Mbappe and Brazilian Pele (12 goals).
Messi is expected to play for the defending champion Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, while Mbappe remains a mainstay in the France national team.
Klose, the current coach of Nuremberg, a club in the German second division, said: “I still hold the record as the player with the most victories in the World Cup, and the only player to have participated in the semi-finals of the World Cup four times.”
Regarding his successor in the German attack from the current strength of his country’s national team, Klose said, “I see that Nick Voltemade is the best player currently in Germany’s attacking line, and he possesses distinguished skills.”
Klose pointed out that Tim Kleindienst, the Borussia Mönchengladbach player, remains a prominent option, adding that Niklas Volkrug and Kai Havertz need to improve their fitness first.