Messi sets new World Cup scoring record
Lionel Messi of Argentina has established a new record for the most goals scored in World Cup history. He achieved his 17th and 18th goals during a victory against Austria. Subsequently, he added his 19th goal in the competition with a free kick. This achievement places him at the top of the all-time scoring list.
Messi’s current World Cup campaign has seen him score six times, including a hat-trick in his opening game. This marks his sixth appearance in the tournament, where he is widely expected to be playing his final World Cup. His performance has allowed him to surpass Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 World Cup goals, which was set in 2014.
Mbappé’s pursuit of the record
Close behind Messi in the all-time scoring race is France’s Kylian Mbappé. He is currently tied for the second spot on the list with 16 World Cup goals. Mbappé has scored four goals in the first two games of the current tournament. This is Mbappé’s third World Cup appearance.
Mbappé has rapidly ascended the scoring charts, with 14 goals in 15 World Cup games. He scored four goals in his debut World Cup in 2018, which France won. In the 2022 tournament, where France was defeated by Argentina in the final, he scored eight goals. Mbappé, at 27 years old, is expected to continue challenging Messi for the top spot.
Comparing the two stars
Both Messi and Mbappé entered the current tournament with significant World Cup goal tallies, with Messi having 13 previous goals and Mbappé having 12. Messi has participated in six World Cups, while Mbappé is in his third. Messi averages two goals per three games across his World Cup appearances. Mbappé, with 17 World Cup matches played, averages approximately one goal per game.
In terms of assists, Messi has a higher rate with six assists in his World Cup career, averaging about one assist every four games. Mbappé has two assists in his World Cup appearances, averaging one assist every eight games. Mbappé also holds the record for the most goals scored in a World Cup final.
The 2022 World Cup final in Qatar saw both players go head-to-head, with Argentina ultimately winning the trophy. Mbappé notably scored a hat-trick in that match, marking only the second time such a feat has occurred in World Cup history. Mbappé recently surpassed Olivier Giroud’s record of 58 goals to become the French national team’s all-time top goal scorer, achieving this with two strikes in a 3-1 win over Senegal on June 16.
Other notable World Cup scorers
Several other players feature prominently on the all-time World Cup scoring list. Brazil’s Pelé scored 12 goals across his World Cup appearances, including six goals in his debut tournament in 1958. France’s Just Fontaine holds the record for the most goals in a single World Cup, with 13 goals in six games during the 1958 tournament.
Other high-scoring players include Harry Kane of England, who has 11 goals, and Germany’s Jürgen Klinsmann, also with 11 goals. Sándor Kocsis of Hungary also scored 11 goals, all during the 1954 World Cup. Gerd Müller of West Germany scored 14 goals across two World Cups, while Brazil’s Ronaldo tallied over three tournaments.
Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record, scored across four World Cups, with five goals each in 2002 and 2006, four in 2010, and two in 2014 when Germany won the trophy. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal became the first player to score at six World Cups, achieving a brace on Tuesday.
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Source: nbcnews.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter