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”.
Messi moved into uncharted territory on Monday night as his brace in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria took him onto 18 World Cup goals, eclipsing the 16 Klose scored during his glittering career with Germany.
The 38-year-old had earlier missed a penalty in Dallas before recovering to score twice and continue his sensational start to the tournament, with five goals already to his name in North America.
Rather than showing disappointment at seeing his own record fall, Klose was quick to congratulate Messi and acknowledge the magnitude 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 stood untouched since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he overtook Brazilian icon Ronaldo by netting his 16th and final goal during Germany’s memorable 7-1 semi-final victory over the hosts.
The striker finished his World Cup career having scored in four successive tournaments, finding the net at the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 editions.
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”
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He also claimed the Golden Boot in Germany in 2006 after scoring five goals and helped Joachim Low’s side lift the trophy eight years later.
Messi’s World Cup journey has taken a very different path.
His first goal on football’s biggest stage arrived as an 18-year-old during Argentina’s 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 tournament.
Four years later, despite producing several eye-catching performances under Diego Maradona, Messi endured the only goal drought of his World Cup career, failing to score in South Africa.
Every team to have won the World Cup | GETTY/GB NEWS
He rediscovered his touch in Brazil in 2014, netting four times in the group stage, including a stoppage-time winner against Iran and a brace against Nigeria, before Argentina lost to Germany in the final.
Messi added just one goal in Russia in 2018 before producing his finest campaign in Qatar four years later.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored seven goals as Argentina finally ended their 36-year wait for World Cup glory, including two strikes in a thrilling final against France before Lionel Scaloni’s men prevailed on penalties.
Messi drew level with Klose’s tally of 16 goals after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening 3-0 victory over Algeria earlier this month.
He then moved clear of the German against Austria despite squandering the chance to make history from the penalty spot.
Messi later admitted the demands of another World Cup campaign were beginning to catch up with him.
“I’m tired and I’m running on fumes,” he said.
Lionel Messi has moved onto 18 World Cup goals with his brace for Argentina against Austria | GETTY
“It’s hard to think.
“But I’m enjoying this moment and looking forward to being with my teammates. It’s been spectacular how it has all unfolded.”
Messi has now featured in a record-extending 28 World Cup matches and remains on course to challenge for the Golden Boot for the first time in his career.
Argentina are already virtually assured of top spot in Group J and, with Jordan up next in the early hours of Sunday morning (3am).
