If Lionel Messi scores a goal in his sixth straight World Cup match Monday, he’ll notch a historic footnote and break an all-time worldwide record in, of all places, North Texas.
Messi has 16 goals in his record six World Cup appearances, and with goals in five straight World Cup matches, it seems inevitable he’ll best Klose’s record when he takes the pitch at noon Monday against Austria at Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium in Arlington).
As momentous as it would be, the history might be fleeting: Just two goals behind Messi sits France’s Kylian Mbappé, who reached 14 World Cup goals all time with a two-score performance against Senegal. Mbappé, playing in just his third World Cup at 27 years old, is on pace to shatter the totals of both Klose and the 38-year-old Messi.
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Still, Messi setting the record Monday would make for an electric World Cup moment at Dallas Stadium.