Football World Cup Top Scorers
All-Time World Cup Top Scorers
Every leading goalscorer in World Cup history, updated live as the 2026 tournament’s race for the all-time record unfolds.
Messi Ties the All-Time Scoring Record
Lionel Messi has pulled level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring chart, both now tied on 16 career goals, after a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria. Kylian Mbappe sits just two goals behind on 14, level with Gerd Muller, after a double against Senegal made him France’s all-time leading World Cup scorer. With the knockout stage still to come, the record could change hands before the tournament is over.
The Top 5
The five highest goalscorers in World Cup history
Full All-Time Leaderboard
The top goalscorers in FIFA World Cup history
| Rank | Player | Country | Goals | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi2026 | Argentina | 16 | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| 1 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 | 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 |
| 3 | Ronaldo Nazario | Brazil | 15 | 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 |
| 4 | Gerd Muller | West Germany | 14 | 1970, 1974 |
| 4 | Kylian Mbappe2026 | France | 14 | 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| 6 | Just Fontaine | France | 13 | 1958 |
| 7 | Pele | Brazil | 12 | 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 |
| 8 | Sandor Kocsis | Hungary | 11 | 1954 |
| 9 | Helmut Rahn | West Germany | 10 | 1954, 1958 |
| 9 | Gary Lineker | England | 10 | 1986, 1990 |
| 9 | Gabriel Batistuta | Argentina | 10 | 1994, 1998, 2002 |
| 9 | Teofilo Cubillas | Peru | 10 | 1970, 1978 |
| 9 | Thomas Muller | Germany | 10 | 2010, 2014, 2018 |
| 9 | Grzegorz Lato | Poland | 10 | 1974, 1978, 1982 |
Other Notable World Cup Scoring Records
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has scored the most goals in World Cup history?
Lionel Messi and Miroslav Klose are tied as the all-time leading World Cup goalscorers with 16 goals each, after Messi drew level with Klose’s long-standing record during the 2026 tournament.
How many World Cup goals does Kylian Mbappe have?
Kylian Mbappe has 14 World Cup goals across the 2018, 2022 and 2026 tournaments, level with Germany’s Gerd Muller and two behind the all-time record.
Who scored the most goals in a single World Cup?
France’s Just Fontaine holds the record for most goals in a single World Cup with 13 goals, all scored during the 1958 tournament in Sweden.
Has anyone scored five goals in one World Cup match?
Russia’s Oleg Salenko is the only player to score five goals in a single World Cup match, achieving the feat against Cameroon in 1994.
Who scored the first ever World Cup goal?
France’s Lucien Laurent scored the first goal in World Cup history, netting against Mexico on July 13, 1930.