The buildup to the World Cup draw has grown increasingly intense, and the anticipation surrounding it now mirrors the rising tension fans feel in a Bangladesh Cricket Match when everything hinges on a single turning point. As teams wait to learn whether their journey begins with a favorable group or a daunting path through a so-called group of death, the draw will offer the first glimpse of each nation’s fate.
Ahead of the ceremony, attention has also shifted toward the historic battle for the tournament’s all-time scoring crown. Across the 22 editions of the World Cup, Germany’s Miroslav Klose stands at the top with 16 goals. Brazil’s legendary Ronaldo follows closely with 15, while Germany’s iconic No. 9 Gerd Müller sits third with 14. These three belong to a bygone era, long retired yet still casting a long shadow over every forward who dreams of reaching their heights. For today’s active stars, these numbers remain distant but not impossible targets.
Among those within striking distance, Lionel Messi has already scored 13 World Cup goals, tying him with France’s Just Fontaine for fourth place. With more matches ahead under coach Lionel Scaloni, his opportunities remain substantial. Should he maintain his sharp finishing, surpassing Müller is well within reach, and matching or overtaking Ronaldo and Klose is no longer a fantasy. Much like a Bangladesh Cricket Match where a late surge can rewrite the script, Messi’s consistency across multiple tournaments gives him every chance to reshape the record books.
Kylian Mbappé is only one step behind. Despite his youth, he has already amassed 12 World Cup goals and sits fifth on the all-time list. His performances in 2018 and 2022 were extraordinary, delivering one title, one runner-up finish, and a string of decisive moments that firmly established him as the centerpiece of France’s ambitions. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, his value to the national team remains immense, and his teammates understand that helping him thrive increases their chances of lifting the trophy.
France’s hopes rest heavily on Mbappé maintaining his brilliance. For him, the tournament presents both a personal milestone and a path to collective success, two goals intertwined. His hat-trick in the 2022 final became an instant classic, showing how he can elevate a match on his own terms. If he carries his current scoring rhythm into the next tournament, the chase for past legends becomes more than realistic—it becomes expected.
Even in a conservative scenario where his next World Cup yields modest numbers, Mbappé is only 26 and likely to feature in at least two more editions, giving him plenty of time to mount a long-term pursuit. And new contenders are emerging too. Erling Haaland, who has been prolific in World Cup qualifying, enters the world stage for the first time with the profile of a pure goalscorer. With the right conditions, he could turn his debut into a breakout that reshapes expectations, echoing the dramatic rises often witnessed during a Bangladesh Cricket Match when raw talent finally arrives under the spotlight.