Chasing History: Lionel Messi, Harry Kane On Verge Of Breaking FIFA World Cup Records

Published 22 June 2026 · sports

Chasing History: Lionel Messi, Harry Kane On Verge Of Breaking FIFA World Cup Records Published By, Last Updated: June 22, 2026, 14:02 IST Lionel Messi

Chasing History: Lionel Messi, Harry Kane On Verge Of Breaking FIFA World Cup Records Published By, Last Updated: June 22, 2026, 14:02 IST Lionel Messi, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland chase historic FIFA World Cup records as goals, caps and scoring milestones fall for Argentina, England and Norway. Rapid Read Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his second goal against Algeria (Picture credit: AP) Legendary Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, England star Harry Kane and France’s Kylian Mbappe are among a host of footballers who are all set to break multiple records at the ongoing FIFA World Cup. As the FIFA World Cup’s biggest stars prepare for their second outings at the inaugural 48-team tournament, a host of records appear poised to tumble. Let us take a look at some of the records that might be broken over the next few days Messi Equals Klose’s Record, One Goal Away from FIFA World Cup History Since 2014, Germany striker Miroslav Klose had stood alone atop the FIFA World Cup scoring charts with 16 goals.

But Messi drew level with that record thanks to a brilliant hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria, putting himself on the brink of becoming the tournament’s outright leading scorer. Messi needed 27 FIFA World Cup appearances to reach the 16-goal mark, three more than Klose, but the 2022 World Cup winner is unlikely to be concerned, having drawn level with the German great and now standing on the verge of claiming the record outright. Kane Double Fires England Top, Matches Lineker’s FIFA World Cup Mark After watching Messi, Haaland and Mbappé all find the back of the net, Kane reminded the footballing world of his own quality with a match-winning display in England’s 4-2 win against Croatia. Kane struck twice in Dallas to fire England to the top of Group L and draw level with Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading scorer at FIFA World Cup finals, with 10 goals.

With Ghana up next on Tuesday night, Kane may not remain level with Lineker for long. His brace against Croatia also saw him become only the second England footballer after David Beckham to score at three different FIFA World Cups, who found the net in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 editions. The Croatia game marked Kane’s 115th England appearance as well, moving him level with Beckham among the nation’s most-capped footballers. Haaland Hits Double, Makes FIFA World Cup History for Norway Where records are being broken, Erling Haaland is rarely far behind. He needed just 20 touches to score twice in a 4-1 victory over Iraq, becoming the first footballer to score a FIFA World Cup double for Norway. Haaland needed just one game to become Norway’s joint all-time top scorer at the FIFA World Cup, equalling Kjetil Rekdal. He now has the opportunity to move clear of Rekdal when Norway face Senegal on Tuesday morning.