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Miroslav Klose
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Miroslav Klose

German striker whose 16-goal World Cup record (2002-2014) was surpassed by Messi and Mbappe.

Miroslav Klose's 16-goal World Cup record, set from 2002 to 2014, was equalled by Lionel Messi on 16 June 2026 and then surpassed by both Messi and Kylian Mbappe before the tournament's end.

Last refreshed: 23 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Will Klose's 12-year World Cup record finally be broken before the 2026 final?

Timeline for Miroslav Klose

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Background

Klose, Born 9 June 1978 in Opole, Poland, before adopting German citizenship, scored 71 goals in 137 international appearances for Germany. His World Cup tally spanned Japan/Korea 2002 (5 goals), Germany 2006 (5 goals and the Golden Boot), South Africa 2010 (4 goals) and Brazil 2014 (2 goals, including the record-breaking 16th in the semi-final against Brazil), the tournament Germany went on to win. He played club football for Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich and Lazio, retiring in 2016.

His record endured through two full World Cup cycles in part because Argentina, Portugal and France failed to field a leading scorer deep into the later rounds of 2018 or 2022. Klose remains, by a wide margin, the most prolific German scorer in World Cup history, and his total is still the benchmark against which Germany's forwards are measured.

Key Issues
Scoring record

Klose's World Cup record is broken

Klose's 16-goal World Cup record, set across four tournaments from 2002 to 2014, endured for twelve years before Lionel Messi's hat-trick against Algeria equalled it on 16 June 2026, the same afternoon Mbappe broke France's own scoring mark and Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut.

Messi moved clear of Klose six days later, scoring twice against Austria on 22 June to reach 18 goals. Klose's mark, once considered one of the most durable records in team sport, now sits third all-time behind Mbappe and Messi, still the highest total for a German player.

Common Questions
Who holds the record for most World Cup goals?
Kylian Mbappe holds the record with 22 career World Cup goals, set on 18 July 2026, passing Lionel Messi's 21. Miroslav Klose's long-standing mark of 16 now ranks third all-time.Source: FIFA
When did Miroslav Klose break the World Cup goals record?
Klose broke Ronaldo's record when he scored his 16th goal in the 2014 World Cup semi-final against Brazil, becoming the outright record holder.Source: FIFA
Is Miroslav Klose still playing football?
No. Klose retired from professional football in 2016 after his final season with Lazio. He subsequently moved into coaching.Source: Britannica
Source Material
Klose's goalscoring record — FIFAMiroslav Klose — Britannica