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Lionel Messi extends lead as World Cup's all-time highest goalscorer
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has further cemented his position as the leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. His recent goal against Cape Verde increased his World Cup tally to 20. This achievement extends his lead over France's Kylian Mbappé, who has 18 goals in the tournament. Miroslav Klose, a former Germany striker, now ranks third with 16 goals, followed by Brazil legend Ronaldo with 15 goals. Germany's Gerd Mueller holds the fifth spot with 14 goals. The updated list of top scorers includes Just Fontaine and Harry Kane with 13 goals, Pele with 12 goals, and Jürgen Klinsmann, Sándor Kocsis, and Cristiano Ronaldo each with 11 goals. Players with 10 goals include Gabriel Batistuta, Helmut Rahn, Gary Lineker, Teofilo Cubillas, Thomas Mueller, and Grzegorz Lato.
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France captain Kylian Mbappé has become the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup knockout-stage history, achieving 10 goals. The 27-year-old reached this milestone after scoring two goals in France’s 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 on June 30. Mbappé's average of 1.11 knockout-stage goals per game is the highest among active players on the list. Argentina captain Lionel Messi is among four players with six knockout-stage goals, having added to his tally in Argentina’s 3-2 extra-time win against Cape Verde. According to FIFA, only 20 players in World Cup history have scored at least five goals in knockout matches. FIFA also noted that comparisons across different eras should consider the evolving World Cup format, as tournaments like 1934 and 1938 were entirely knockout-based, while the 1950 World Cup had no knockout stage, and other editions featured limited knockout matches.
Must ReadOut of ten African nations participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, only two have progressed to the Round of 16. Egypt secured their spot by defeating Australia 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, marking their first-ever knockout-stage win at a FIFA World Cup. They are set to play Argentina in the next round. Morocco was the first African team to qualify for the Round of 16, beating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw, and will face co-hosts Canada. Eight other African representatives have been eliminated: Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Senegal, Ghana, and Cape Verde in the Round of 32, and Algeria in the group stage.
BreakingFuneral ceremonies for Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei began on Saturday, drawing thousands of participants. Iranian authorities anticipate between 15 and 20 million attendees in Tehran alone over three days. Six days of ceremonies are planned to commemorate Khamenei, who led the Islamic republic from 1989 until his death at 86 on February 28. The events will be closely watched for signs of Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named supreme leader a week after his father's death but has not yet appeared publicly. Mourners carrying red banners, symbolizing vengeance, gathered in Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex, chanting “death to America” and “revenge, revenge.” Security measures are significant, with blocked roads and anticipated airspace closure for what is expected to be the largest public event in Iran since the burial of Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. The coffin will lie in state until Monday, with a procession through Tehran, then move to Qom on Tuesday, Shia holy cities in Iraq on Wednesday, and finally Mashhad for burial on Thursday. Top Iranian officials, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Ahmad Vahidi, chief of the Revolutionary Guards, paid their respects. International guests included Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russian ex-president Dmitry Medvedev. Representatives from Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Taliban government also attended. Army chief Amir Hatami vowed that Israel and the US “will pay for the bl