World Cup 2026: Miroslav Klose's 17 wins, a throne eyed by Lionel Messi

Miroslav Klose's record of 17 World Cup victories, achieved with Germany, stands as a significant benchmark in the tournament's history. The former striker, who is also the all-time leading scorer with 16 goals, secured these wins across four consecutive World Cups from 2002 to 2014, playing in 24 matches and winning 70% of them.

Currently, Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi is closing in on this record. Messi has amassed 16 victories over five World Cup appearances, most recently leading Argentina to victory in Qatar 2022. He is now tied with Brazilian legend Cafu, the iconic right-back who also achieved 16 wins across four tournaments, including three consecutive finals with Brazil.

Other notable players with impressive victory tallies include Brazilian Ronaldo and German midfielder Lothar Matthäus, both with 15 wins. German teammates Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger also feature prominently in the list of players with the most World Cup wins, often maintaining win percentages around or above 70%.

Interestingly, among the top 15 players with the most World Cup victories, only Italian defender Paolo Maldini never won the tournament. As the football world looks towards the 2026 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Klose's victory record appears vulnerable. The expansion of the tournament to 104 matches means teams will play more games, potentially accelerating the accumulation of wins for active players like Messi, who is now in prime position to become the player with the most victories in World Cup history.