Jürgen Klopp, serving as a television expert for the first time, was left deeply impressed after witnessing Lionel Messi lead Argentina’s national team.
Klopp watched as Argentina secured a 2-0 victory over Austria in Dallas. During the match, Messi, despite missing a penalty, managed to score twice, becoming the sole record goalscorer in World Cup finals.
Speaking on Sky, Klopp lauded the attacker’s astute gameplay. «I saw Lionel Messi live, and when you watch the game and then see he has run eight kilometers, you think: ‘We’ve found the optimal running distance!'» The former Liverpool manager explained that Messi runs so little in order to «really be there at the decisive moment.» He emphasized that this applies exclusively to the Inter Miami striker, adding, «Imagine if everyone only ran eight kilometers.»
«I found myself watching him so often, even when the ball was elsewhere,» Klopp admitted. «I just wanted to see: What is he doing? I believe he is measuring distances. He knows exactly, ‘Now I’m here, now I’ll position myself on the right, now I’ll be in the center.’ And the game against Austria was not his game for a long time, you have to say that. But then in the moments: He scores the first goal because he can. He scores the second goal because he wants to.»
Klopp on Messi: ‘It’s Extraordinary’
Messi has now reached 18 goals in World Cup finals, surpassing Germany’s 2014 World Cup winner Miroslav Klose by two goals. Messi’s former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappé also stands at 16 goals.
Acknowledging the impressive record of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Klopp remarked, «Zlatan Ibrahimović said that Messi has five goals at one World Cup, and he himself has zero goals in two World Cups. It’s that simple. It’s extraordinary that we get to experience all of this, this generation.»
Argentina, having not conceded a single goal, has achieved a perfect six points from two matches, securing their ticket to the knockout rounds. All five of their tournament goals have been scored by Messi. It remains uncertain whether the veteran will be rested by Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni in their final group stage match against Jordan, given their guaranteed group victory.
World Cup Finals Top Scorers: The Top 10
| Rank | Name | Goals | Nation |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | 18 | Argentina |
| 2 | Miroslav Klose | 16 | Germany |
| Kylian Mbappé | 16 | France | |
| 4 | Ronaldo | 15 | Brazil |
| 5 | Gerd Müller | 14 | Germany |
| 6 | Just Fontaine | 13 | France |
| 7 | Pelé | 13 | Brazil |
| 8 | Jürgen Klinsmann | 11 | Germany |
| 9 | Sándor Kocsis | 11 | Hungary |
| 10 | Grzegorz Lato | 10 | Poland |