Messi equals Klose and takes top spot among the World Cup's top scorers
Hat-trick in victory over Algeria took Lionel Messi to 16 goals in the tournament, equaling Klose and surpassing Pelé in the historic list of World Cups.
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Lionel Messi wrote his name in football history by equaling Miroslav Klose's record as one of the top scorers in the men's World Cup. With a hat-trick in Argentina's 4-1 victory over Algeria, the number 10 reached 16 goals in the tournament, surpassing Pelé (12 goals) and equaling Klose (16 goals). The feat, achieved in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, puts Messi at the top of a list that includes giants such as Just Fontaine (13 goals), Gerd Müller (14 goals) and Ronaldo Nazário (15 goals).
