World Cup Records Tumble as Messi, Mbappe, and Kane Chase History

The 2026 World Cup is barely 10 days old, but several all-time records are already under threat. Lionel Messi has matched Miroslav Klose's record of 16 career World Cup goals after a hat-trick against Algeria, while Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane are closing in on historic milestones of their own.

Argentina's Messi needed 27 games to reach 16 goals, three more than Klose, but the 2022 World Cup winner is now poised to stand alone atop the scoring list. Mbappe, France's captain, has 14 World Cup goals and recently became his country's all-time leading scorer with 58 goals for Les Bleus. Kane, meanwhile, scored twice in England's 4-2 win over Croatia, moving him level with Gary Lineker as England's top scorer at World Cup finals with 10 goals.

Record Chasers

Several records are within reach as the tournament progresses into the group stage. Messi could break the outright scoring record in Argentina's next match against Austria. Mbappe is aiming to become the first player to win multiple World Cup Golden Boots after his eight-goal haul in 2022. Kane also has a chance to win his second Golden Boot after taking the prize in 2018 with six goals.

• Lionel Messi tied Miroslav Klose with 16 World Cup goals after a hat-trick vs Algeria.
• Kylian Mbappe has 14 World Cup goals and is France's all-time leading scorer with 58 goals.
• Harry Kane scored twice vs Croatia to reach 10 World Cup goals, tying Gary Lineker for England's record.
• Kane also earned his 115th cap for England, equalling David Beckham's appearance tally.
• Kane, Mbappe, and Messi are all in contention for the Golden Boot, with Mbappe seeking a second consecutive award.

As the group stage continues, fans will watch to see if Messi can claim the scoring record outright, whether Mbappe can pull ahead, and if Kane can surpass Lineker's mark. The 48-team format is providing more opportunities for record-breaking performances, and these stars are making the most of it.