Ever since its inception in 1930, the FIFA World Cup has brought together the globe’s greatest players in a celebration of the beautiful game.
Here, FIFA lists the leading marksmen in World Cup history, with two men heading the pack as joint-holders of the all-time record as FIFA World Cup 2026 rumbles on.
Prior to the tournament, Miroslav Klose was the outright leader, but Lionel Messi has now joined him at the top of the charts.
This was after a hat-trick – his first in the World Cup – in Argentina’s opening game against Algeria.
Miroslav Klose – Germany
Goals: 16
World Cups: Four – 2002 (five goals), 2006 (five goals), 2010 (four goals), 2014 (two goals)
Matches played: 24
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Goals: 16
World Cups: Six – 2006 (one goal), 2010 (no goals), 2014 (four goals), 2018 (one goal), 2022 (seven goals), 2026 (three goals to date)
Matches played: 27
Ronaldo – Brazil
Goals: 15
World Cups: Four – 1994 (no goals), 1998 (four goals), 2002 (eight goals), 2006 (three goals)
Matches played: 19
Gerd Muller – West Germany
Goals: 14
World Cups: Two – 1970 (10 goals), 1974 (four goals)
Matches played: 13
Kylian Mbappe – France
Goals: 14
World Cups: Three – 2018 (four goals), 2022 (eight goals), 2026 (two goals to date)
Matches played: 15
Just Fontaine – France
Goals: 13
World Cups: One – 1958
Matches played: Six
Pele – Brazil
Goals: 12
More details here...
