3-0 against Algeria 

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A hattrick against Algeria sealed it (3-0). Lionel Messi has equalled Miroslav Klose’s goalscoring record at the World Cup. The 38-year-old Inter Miami CF star has now scored 16 goals across six World Cups, with an opportunity to further surpass Klose. The goals also meant that Messi is now the youngest and the oldest goalscorer in Argentina’s World Cup history. Messi also did it in his 200th cap for Argentina. But while Klose needed 24 games to reach his record, the Major League Soccer superstar needed 27.

Miroslav Klose was the leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals in 24 appearances across four tournaments. The legendary German striker netted five goals in his first World Cup in 2002 in Japan and Korea, and he repeated that feat in 2006, when he finished top goalscorer. Klose retired after scoring twice as Germany won the 2014 World Cup, becoming the first player to score in four consecutive World Cups. As the graphic below illustrates, Ronaldo ranks third with 15 goals in 19 World Cup appearances for Brazil.

Despite never featuring, O Fenômeno won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 before finishing top goalscorer in 1998, and Ronaldo scored eight goals in 2002. Another German legend ranks third: Gerd Müller, who scored 13 goals across 14 appearances. Just Fontaine only played at one World Cup in 1958, but he scored 13 goals in just six games. After completing his hattrick, Messi was brought off, hence it remains to be seen whether he can break the record.

Messi vs Mbappé: Who will break Klose’s goalscoring record?

Also, he is not alone in chasing the record. Earlier today, Kylian Mbappé scored twice against Senegal (3-1). Those two goals meant Mbappé now holds the record for the most goals for his country. The Frenchman is now on 14 goals and is 11 years younger than Messi. For now, Messi still sits ahead of the Frenchman at the very top of the goalscoring chart, together with the legendary Klose. But even if Messi breaks the record, how long he will actually keep the record remains to be seen.