Iconic former Germany striker Miroslav Klose has been proven wrong after Kylian Mbappe eclipsed his World Cup goalscoring record.
Mbappe is in red-hot form for tournament favourites France, and the Real Madrid forward was at the double in a 3-0 win over Sweden . He took his tally to six goals in four games with two brilliant strikes.
The 27-year-old is now level with Lionel Messi in the goalscoring charts, and the pair are staging a memorable battle for the Golden Boot. His brace against the Swedes also made history as he overtook Klose as the outright second all-time top scorer in World Cup history.
Klose Backed Mbappe to Break World Cup Record
Mbappe has now managed 18 goals in as many World Cup games, putting him second behind Messi in the all-time goalscoring charts. The Argentina legend sits on 19 in 21 games, which includes the six he's registered during the ongoing tournament.
Klose held the record for the most goals in the competition's history for 12 years, but he has now moved down to third. The German hero had tipped Messi to break his record this year, while incorrectly predicting that Mbappe would do so at the 2030 World Cup.
The former Bayern Munich striker told Sport BILD : "I’m sure my goal-scoring record at the World Cup will be broken soon. Either Lionel Messi will achieve it at this World Cup, or at the latest Kylian Mbappe will do it at the next one."
Mbappe has been magic for France, and he's now chasing Messi in a hotly-contested Golden Boot race. Klose added:
"I’m a huge Messi fan. If it happens, I’d hope it’s him, if he’s still playing. But Mbappé is also an incredible talent. I wish them both good health and the ability to perform."
0.66
1.00
0.67
0.79
1.08
2.17
0.86
2.20
Klose won the World Cup with Germany back in 2014, and he is the only player to win four medals, having finished third place in 2006 and 2010 and runner-up in 2002. He made 24 appearances in the tournament during his career, posting 16 goals and four assists.
Mbappe on Chasing Klose's 'Surreal' Record
Mbappe is participating in just his third World Cup campaign, and he already has a winners' medal from France's 2018 title. He lit up that tournament at the age of 19 and is now in his prime eight years later.
The time he's taken to eclipse Klose's record is simply astonishing, and he acknowledged this ahead of this year's competition. He told Olivier Giroud for La Parisien in mid-June:
"Everyone talks to me about Klose's record. I think it's the first time in my life that a record has felt unreal. Because to me, it was unthinkable that in a competition every great legend of the game has played in, I'd already be at that level after just two World Cups at the age of 27."
Mbappe added: "To imagine being the person who has scored the most goals in the entire history of the World Cup is pretty surreal."
The France captain insisted his main priority is to win the World Cup and "bring home a third star." If he and Les Bleus continue as they are, no team will prevent them from becoming world champions.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane are all expected to finish among the top goalscorers in this summer's tournament.
Transfer News & Rumours
Transfer News & Rumours