Historic Milestone Beckons Messi

Lionel Messi, the hero of Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar, is set to take the field for a record sixth World Cup appearance. In the historic 48-team tournament, another milestone now beckons the Argentine captain.

Messi made his World Cup debut in 2006 and has since featured in five consecutive editions. He has scored 13 goals in 26 matches, making him the highest-scoring active player in World Cup history. He now stands on the verge of becoming the all-time top scorer in World Cup history.

The all-time World Cup top scorer is Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who leads the chart with 16 goals in 24 matches across four editions. Klose lifted the World Cup with Germany in 2014.

To surpass Klose, Messi must also overtake Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário, West Germany’s Gerd Müller, and France’s Just Fontaine.

Ronaldo sits just behind Klose with 15 goals in 19 matches. He played a key role in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup title victory.

Müller follows with 14 goals in 13 matches, scoring in the 1974 World Cup final to help West Germany secure the title.

Fontaine holds the record for the most goals in a single World Cup, scoring 13 goals in just six matches in the 1958 tournament.

Messi needs four more goals to surpass all four legends and move to the top. With three goals, he would share the record; one more would make him the outright all-time leading scorer.

Can Messi achieve this historic feat in what could be his final World Cup?