Lionel Messi Becomes Top World Cup Goal Scorer as Mbappé Trails Close Behind

During the ongoing 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi has surpassed every other player in history to become the all-time leading scorer. He netted his 17th and 18th goals in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria, pushing him past previous records. Now, the question is how many more goals he will add before the tournament ends.

Only hours later, France’s Kylian Mbappé climbed into a tie for second place on the all-time World Cup scoring list.

Top World Cup Goal Scorers Throughout History

Several players have made their mark with double-digit goal tallies at FIFA's premier international tournament. England’s Harry Kane and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo are among seven players who have scored 10 or more goals at World Cups. Ronaldo also made history by scoring at six separate World Cups, adding a first-half brace during this tournament.

Details on Some Legendary Scorers

Jürgen Klinsmann remains known for his coaching career but was a fearsome striker in his playing days, tallying 11 goals over three World Cups and contributing to Germany's 1990 title.

Sándor Kocsis achieved 11 goals solely during the 1954 tournament, featuring two hat tricks. His Hungary side lost to West Germany in the final.

The Brazilian icon Pelé scored 12 goals over three World Cups, winning titles in 1958, 1962, and 1970. He burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old in 1958 with six goals.

Just Fontaine set a remarkable record by scoring 13 goals at a single World Cup in 1958, including a four-goal performance in the third-place match.

Gerd Müller collected 14 goals across just two tournaments (1970 and 1974), securing the Golden Boot in 1970 and helping West Germany win in 1974.

Ronaldo won the World Cup in 1994 without playing, then scored prolifically across the next three tournaments, especially in 2002 when Brazil took the title.

Kylian Mbappé is climbing quickly with 16 goals at only 27 years old. He had four goals in France’s 2018 winning campaign and eight in 2022 when they lost the final to Argentina.

Miroslav Klose, once the all-time leader, ended with 16 goals over four World Cups. His consistent finishing helped Germany capture the trophy in 2014.

Lionel Messi shattered records with an 18th goal, including a hat trick against Algeria in the group stage and a key goal in the recent win over Austria. This is his sixth World Cup, following a stellar 2022 performance where he scored seven goals en route to Argentina's championship.