Miroslav Klose shares Lionel Messi’s personal message to him after breaking World Cup goals record

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Lionel Messi didn’t forget the legend he surpassed to become the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history.

With his first of two goals in Argentina’s Group J match against Austria, Messi stood alone as the all-time leading scorer in the greatest football competition, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose.

Klose’s record had stood since the 2014 World Cup, where he became a World Champion by beating Messi’s Argentina.

Lionel Messi reached out to Miroslav Klose after breaking World Cup record

In an interview with Bundesliga club FC Nürnberg’s in-house media, Klose revealed that Messi spoke to him after surpassing the goal record, with Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni arranging a call.

“He (Scaloni) arranged a call between Messi and me. It was very moving. Of course, we had crossed paths on the pitch a few times, encounters that were always pleasant and respectful, but that call was the first time we had spoken after so long. He told me he would send me an autographed jersey.”

Scaloni and Klose were teammates at Napoli, so this was a gracious gesture from the Argentinian duo for a legend of international football.

Klose scored 16 goals across four World Cups, breaking the record during Germany’s infamous 7-1 win over Brazil, surpassing Brazil’s own Ronaldo Nazario for the top spot.

Miroslav Klose’s record has been surpassed again after Lionel Messi

Messi took six World Cups to overtake Klose’s efforts over four World Cups, but the Argentine legend is already at eight goals in the 2026 World Cup, leading this tournament’s Golden Boot while already being five ahead of Klose.

France’s Kylian Mbappe has also surpassed Klose’s all-time tally in his third World Cup, with the 27-year-old striker expected to eventually surpass Messi’s tally as well with more World Cups in his future.

England’s Harry Kane sits two goals behind Klose and could also overtake the German in the 2026 edition.

The new 48-team World Cup also adds an extra game for nations to play, so Klose’s tally of 16 will likely be overtaken by more mercurial strikers in the coming years.