No More Debate”: Wenger, Klose, Rooney React As Messi Becomes World Cup Top Scorer With 18

Legends Unite As Lionel Messi Becomes All-Time World Cup Top Scorer With 18 Goals

“No more debate” – Wenger, Ferdinand, Klose react as Argentina star breaks own record vs Austria

Lionel Messi has done it again. The Argentina captain scored against Austria today to take his World Cup tally to 18 goals — breaking the all-time record he had just set minutes earlier. With that strike, Messi officially became the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, and football legends around the world are speaking in one voice: the GOAT debate is over.

“No more debate” – Wenger & Schmeichel weigh in

Arsenal legend Arsène Wenger pulled no punches:
🗣️ “At this point there’s nothing like debate in football anymore. The best and greatest footballer of all time at it again, the greatest top scorer in the history of World Cup now. The world have to admit the fact that there no one in the history of football. I’ve confirmed this since 2011… This modern time of football is blessed to have him. No more debate about the GOAT.”

Peter Schmeichel agreed, calling the gap “not close”:
🗣️ “The football’s GOAT debate is the most forced debate ever. The gap between Messi and second best player is not close… Messi is now the highest goal scorer in the World Cup, it’s crazy. I’ve never seen anything like it. A playmaker competing with strikers in goal tally for two decades. Listen, I think he will reach 1000 goals too.”

Ferdinand & Rooney on longevity and impact

Rio Ferdinand said watching Messi this tournament feels like 2022 all over again:
🗣️ “Just think about it for a second, every Argentina goal in this tournament has come through Messi. He’s scored every single one. At his age, on the biggest stage in football, that’s absolutely ridiculous… Defenders know everything about him, teams set up specifically to stop him, yet he still finds a way to be the difference.”

Wayne Rooney put the number into context:
🗣️ “Seventeen World Cup goals… just sit with that for a moment… This is the World Cup, the highest level, the most pressured stage in the entire sport… Seventeen times he has broken through the best defensive systems in world football across different eras… What we are witnessing is not just a record being broken, but a standard of excellence being completely redefined.”

Former opponents show respect

The man whose record Messi broke, Miroslav Klose, was gracious:
🗣️ “When I scored my goals at the World Cup, I never imagined a day would come where someone would not only break the record, but completely redefine what it means… What stands out to me is not just that he broke it, but how he broke it. The consistency, the timing, the pressure moments… I feel proud in a strange way, because if someone had to break my record, it had to be a player like Lionel Messi.”

Paul Scholes, who played against him, wasn’t surprised:
🗣️ “I’m not surprised he now holds the record… even Miroslav Klose will be proud it’s Lionel Messi who took over. When he missed that penalty, I knew he’s going to score. He’s that good… What amazes me most is his leadership abilities. A happy Lionel Messi is going to do anything for the team.”

Olivier Giroud laughed off Messi’s penalty miss:
🗣️ “When Messi missed that penalty, I laughed because I know him. Most players lose confidence after a miss, but Messi becomes even more dangerous. Five goals in two matches is something very few players can do. The truth is, you can never predict Messi.”

Roy Keane admitted it plainly:
🗣️ “To be frank, I won’t lie to you: we all have to admit it – Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time. You could see how fired up the Argentina players were for him… Absolute genius.”

At 18 World Cup goals and counting, Messi isn’t just adding to his legacy — he’s redefining what’s possible on football’s biggest stage. From Wenger to Klose, from rivals to teammates, the message is the same: this is greatness, sustained for two decades, delivered when it matters most.