FIFA World Cup Top Scorers: Messi Surpasses Klose to Lead the All-Time Chart
The FIFA World Cup has long been the stage where the finest goal scorers showcase their talent. As the 2026 tournament unfolds across North America, Lionel Messi has overtaken Germany's Miroslav Klose to become the top scorer in the competition's history.
Messi's remarkable hat-trick against Austria during the 2026 World Cup opener brought his tally to 18 goals, surpassing Klose’s previous record of 16. Klose earned his place atop the leaderboard with 16 goals spanning four tournaments from 2002 to 2014. His World Cup journey began with a hat-trick against Saudi Arabia in 2002 and culminated in 2014 with a memorable semifinal performance against Brazil.
Top Goal Scorers at the FIFA World Cup
An impressive list shows names from different eras, countries, and playing styles. Klose reached the top by passing Brazilian legend Ronaldo, who scored 15 World Cup goals, including two in the 2002 final victory over Germany.
Kylian Mbappe is climbing quickly, with 16 goals after scoring twice in France's 2026 opener versus Senegal. That took him past Pele and into a tie with Gerd Muller and Brazil’s Ronaldo.
Harry Kane added two goals in England's 4-2 win over Croatia, joining a group of players who have reached double digits at the World Cup.
How Many Goals Has Cristiano Ronaldo Scored in the World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo is known as the leading international scorer globally with 143 goals by 2026, but his World Cup tally stood at eight before the 2026 tournament. This number matches that of another Argentine icon, Diego Maradona. Ronaldo kicked off the 2026 event with a goal drought against DR Congo but bounced back with a brace against Uzbekistan, pushing him past ten career World Cup goals.
He also made history as the first player to score in six different World Cups and surpassed Eusebio as Portugal's all-time World Cup top scorer, with Eusebio having scored nine goals during the 1966 tournament.
