Klose struck 16 times on football's grandest stage during a storied playing career for Germany, before Messi set a new gold standard with his brace against Austria in World Cup 2026 Group J on 22 June.
"For me, Lionel Messi is the best of all time," the now Nuremberg head coach told Süddeutsche Zeitung after the Argentina talisman moved onto 18 World Cup goals. "Congratulations, champ!"
