Race for World Cup top scorer heats up: Messi ties with Klose, Mbappe's age gives him edge

While the battle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup winner is slowly but surely heating up, the race for the World Cup all-time leading scorer is fiercer than ever.

Before the start of the tournament, Miroslav Klose held the summit of the list with 16 goals. However, as things stand, the legendary German won't stay at the top for long.

Kylian Mbappe put on a show against Senegal last night and, with a brace, moved within two goals of the 48-year-old's record. At the same time, the Real Madrid star became the all-time leading scorer of the France national team, leapfrogging Olivier Giroud with his 57th and 58th goals for Les Bleus.

At that point, the world started talking about the new king of scorers at the World Cup, as the 27-year-old Mbappe has at least two more Mundials to play.

Nevertheless, everyone overlooked one key factor - Lionel Messi.

Lions of Teranga's brave heart can't suppress the magic! Senegal shine, but Olise and Mbappe are out of this world

The Argentinian awaited the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, having scored 14 World Cup goals to his name. Mbappe surpassed him by a single goal in the game against Senegal, and Leo took it as a challenge. And when you challenge one of the best in football history, you can only get a fierce response.

And that's exactly what happened...

Messi single-handedly dismantled Algeria with a hat-trick and once again moved ahead of Mbappe on the list, pulling level with Klose at the summit! At the same time, he became the oldest hat-trick scorer at World Cups, aged 38 years and 357 days.

Magical Messi hat-trick fires Argentina past Algeria

The tournament has just started, so both Leo and Kylian will have plenty of chances to improve their numbers and continue the race, though given that the Frenchman is 11 years younger, it feels like only a matter of time before he takes over the throne.

Either way, one thing seems certain - Miroslav Klose’s reign at the summit looks set to end.

WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE

Monday, 15.06.

Ivory Coast - Ecuador 1-0 (0-0)

/Diallo 90/

Sweden - Tunisia 5-1 (2-1)

/Ayari 7, 90+6, Isak 30, Gyokeres , Svanberg 84 - Rekik 43/

Spain - Cabo Verde 0-0

Belgium - Egypt 1-1 (0-1)

/Hany 66 og - Ashour 20/

Tuesday 16.06.

Saudi Arabia- Uruguay 1-1 (1-0)

/Amri 41 - Araujo 80/

Iran - New Zealand 2-2 (1-1)

/Ramin 33,Mohebi, 64- Just, 7,54/

France - Senegal 3-1 (0-0)

/Mbappe 66, 90+6 Barcola 82 - Mbaye 90+5/

Wednesday

Iraq - Norway 1-3 (1-2)

/Hussein 39 - Haaland 29, 43 Ostigard 76/

Argentina - Algeria 3-0 (1-0)

/Messi 17, 60, 76/

Austria - Jordan 3-1 (1-0)

/Schmid 21, Al-Arab 76 og, Arnautovic 90+12 pen - Olwan 50/

20.00: (1.30) Portugal (5.20) Dr Congo (11.0)

23.00: (1.75) England (3.90) Croatia (5.00)

Thursday

02.00: (2.25) Ghana (3.20) Panama (3.40)

05.00: (8.50) Uzbekistan (4.50) Colombia (1.42)

19.00: (1.80) Czech R. (3.50) S.Africa (4.70)

22.00: (1.65) Switzerland (3.60) B&H (5.80)

Friday

01.00: (1.32) Canada (5.10) Qatar (10.0)

04.00: (2.10) Mexico (3.30) S.Korea (3.70)

22.00: (1.65) USA (3.85) Australia (5.50)

Saturday

01.00: (4.70) Scotland (3.50) Morocco (1.80)

03.30: (1.12) Brazil (10.0) Haiti (16.0)

06.00: (2.10) Turkey (3.35) Paraguay (3.60)

20.00: (1.72) Netherlands (3.60) Sweden (5.30)

23.00: (1.58) Germany (4.00) Ivory Coast (5.90)

Sunday

03.00: (1.12) Ecuador (9.50) Curacao (19.0)

07.00: (6.50) Tunisia (3.60) Japan (1.60)

19.00: (1.10) Spain (10.5) Saudi Arabia (22.0)

***odds are subject to change***