Lionel Messi Breaks World Cup Goal Record as Mbappé Chases Close Behind
During the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi from Argentina surpassed the previous record to become the highest goal scorer in World Cup history. He netted his 17th and 18th goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria. Now, the focus shifts to how many more goals he will score in this tournament.
Just hours later, France's Kylian Mbappé climbed into a tie for second place on the all-time scoring list. Other big names like Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo are also among the players with 10 or more World Cup goals, with Ronaldo recently becoming the first player to score at six different World Cups.
Top World Cup Goal Scorers in History
Jürgen Klinsmann was a prolific forward during his playing days, scoring 11 World Cup goals across three tournaments and helping Germany win in 1990. Sándor Kocsis made a mark by scoring all his 11 World Cup goals in the 1954 competition, including two hat tricks, though Hungary lost the final.
Pelé is often called one of the greatest ever and began his World Cup journey with six goals as a 17-year-old in 1958, eventually winning three titles and scoring 12 goals overall. Just Fontaine set an extraordinary single-tournament record by scoring 13 goals in 1958.
Gerd Müller made his mark with 14 goals in just two World Cups, earning the Golden Boot in 1970 and winning in 1974. Ronaldo of Brazil scored 15 goals, shining especially in the 2002 tournament when Brazil claimed the title.
Kylian Mbappé, only 27, has already scored 14 goals in three World Cups and looks set to challenge Messi’s new record soon. Meanwhile, Miroslav Klose remains tied with Mbappé at 16 goals, known for his consistent goal-scoring in four tournaments and leading Germany to victory in 2014.
Messi's recent hat trick against Algeria and subsequent goals have solidified his place at the top. This marks his sixth World Cup appearance after leading Argentina to the championship in 2022 with seven goals. The ongoing tournament promises more exciting moments from these legendary scorers.
