PHOTO: REUTERS

SAMSUL AREFIN KHAN

Before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one of the most anticipated storylines was the race to break Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record.

Within the first week, that race has already begun to shape into one of its defining narratives. With Lionel Messi now equalling Klose’s mark of 16 goals and Kylian Mbappe just two behind, this is the first time the World Cup has featured two contenders for the all-time scoring record competing simultaneously.

Klose scored his 16 goals across four World Cups between 2002 and 2014, surpassing Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario’s tally of 15.

By the end of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it already seemed only a matter of time before the record would fall. Argentina captain Messi and France star Mbappe finished that tournament with seven and eight goals respectively, taking their overall World Cup tallies to 13 and 12, bringing both within touching distance of Klose’s landmark.

Even Klose himself admitted he expects his record to be broken during this tournament, pointing to the expanded 48-team format as a factor that gives elite forwards more opportunities to score.

“With more teams, there are more matches and therefore more opportunities to score goals…the record will be broken eventually anyway. Messi is welcome to do it. I’m a huge Messi fan and always have been.”

At 27, Mbappe entered the tournament as the overwhelming favourite to surpass the record. Having already scored 12 World Cup goals across just two editions, his age suggests he could feature in at least two more tournaments beyond 2026, making the record appear, if not inevitable, then increasingly within reach.

For Messi, however, the path looked far more uncertain. Following Argentina’s triumph in Qatar, another World Cup appearance seemed unlikely. Yet it was the 38-year-old who got their first, levelling Klose’s record with a scintillating hattrick in Argentina’s opener against Algeria in Kansas City on Wednesday.

Mbappe, however, had moved closer first, scoring twice in France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal in their Group I opener in New Jersey yesterday. His brace took his World Cup tally to 14 goals in just 15 matches.

Hours later, Messi answered in spectacular fashion, netting his first World Cup hattrick to join Klose at the summit of the all-time scoring chart.

Despite the milestone, Messi downplayed its significance.

“To enjoy this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are always there, is a really beautiful moment,” Messi said after the match. “I’m happy.”

He added: “It’s an honour to be there, given what it means to stand alongside Klose and others.

“Ronaldo is there too, but I don’t think it means anything. Mbappe as well, who scored two today.

“In the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more.”

The battle many expected before the tournament has already burst into life in thrilling fashion. With France set to face Iraq and Norway in their remaining group-stage matches, and Argentina taking on Austria and Jordan, both Messi and Mbappe will back themselves to add further goals before the knockout rounds.

Whether it is Messi or Mbappe who ultimately claims the record outright remains to be seen, but for now, football fans can enjoy a historic race unfolding on the sport’s grandest stage.