Miroslav Klose praises Lionel Messi after record-breaking World Cup goal
Miroslav Klose has paid tribute to Lionel Messi after the Argentina captain surpassed his World Cup goalscoring record, hailing the veteran forward as “the best player of all time,” reports BritPanorama.
Messi moved into uncharted territory on Monday night when his brace in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria brought his total to 18 World Cup goals, eclipsing Klose’s previous record of 16 set during his illustrious career with Germany.
The 38-year-old Klose had earlier missed a penalty in Dallas but rebounded to score twice, marking a sensational start to the tournament with five goals already to his name in North America.
Rather than expressing disappointment at the loss of his record, Klose congratulated Messi, recognizing the significance of the achievement. “For me, Lionel Messi is the best of all time,” the former Germany striker told Süddeutsche Zeitung. “Congratulations, champ!”
Klose’s record had remained untouched since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he overtook Brazilian legend Ronaldo by netting his final goal during Germany’s memorable 7-1 semi-final victory over the hosts. He concluded his World Cup career having scored in four successive tournaments, from 2002 to 2014.
Messi’s journey in the World Cup has been distinct. His first goal on the global stage came as an 18-year-old in 2006 during Argentina’s 6-0 rout of Serbia and Montenegro. However, in 2010, Messi experienced a rare goal drought in South Africa despite contributing to several impressive team performances.
He rediscovered his scoring touch in 2014, netting four goals in the group stage, helping Argentina reach the final, where they succumbed to Germany. This year, Messi marked a resurgence, scoring seven goals in Qatar, guiding Argentina to their first World Cup victory in 36 years and matching Klose’s record earlier in the tournament with a hat-trick against Algeria.
In his recent match against Austria, Messi moved ahead of Klose, even after missing a penalty. He acknowledged the strenuous nature of the tournament, stating, “I’m tired and I’m running on fumes,” yet he expressed enjoyment for the moment and excitement about being part of the team.
With 28 World Cup matches now under his belt, Messi aims to claim the Golden Boot for the first time in his career. Argentina is on the verge of securing the top spot in Group J, with their next match against Jordan scheduled for the early hours of Sunday morning.
As Messi continues to redefine the record books, his ability to rise to the occasion amid pressures resonates deeply within the sport, reminding fans why the beautiful game offers such profound narratives.
