Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé on Collision Course For History at 2026 World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be the biggest tournament in soccer history.
Hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, the tournament will feature a record 48 teams, 104 matches, and a new Round of 32, creating more opportunities than ever for elite players to pile up goals.
And now, with the competition just days away, one of the sport's most iconic records suddenly feels vulnerable: the all-time World Cup goals mark.
Germany legend Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals has stood for more than a decade, but Argentina captain Lionel Messi enters the tournament with 13 World Cup goals and France superstar Kylian Mbappe with 12.
As two of the betting favorites to win the Golden Boot, an award that has usually gone to players who score at least five goals, both are firmly within reach of one of soccer's most prestigious individual achievements.
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Messi will turn 39 on June 24, making this his sixth and likely final World Cup. He leads defending champion Argentina into Group J alongside Austria, Algeria, and World Cup debutant Jordan.
Argentina opens its campaign against Algeria on June 16 at 9:00 p.m. ET at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Albiceleste will then face Austria on June 22 at 1:00 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before closing out the group stage against Jordan on June 27 at 10:00 p.m. ET, also at AT&T Stadium.
Argentina are widely viewed as favorites to advance deep into the knockout rounds, which could give Messi multiple opportunities to add to his total.
Mbappé, meanwhile, is just 27 years old, the French captain, and already owns 12 World Cup goals after exploding for a hat trick in the 2022 final against Argentina. He won the Golden Boot after scoring eight goals in the tournament.
France begins its World Cup campaign against Senegal in Group I on June 16 at 3:00 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Les Bleus will then travel to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 22, where they will face Iraq at 5:00 p.m. ET, before wrapping up the group stage against Norway on June 26 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
For Messi, overtaking Klose would add yet another layer to an already compelling case as the greatest soccer player in history.
For Mbappé, breaking the record before even turning 28 would be another giant step toward joining that same conversation.
As fans prepare for the biggest World Cup in history, soccer could witness a genuine passing-of-the-torch moment, with one of the sport’s most cherished records hanging in the balance.
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 6:13 PM.