Lionel Messi Claims Top Spot for Most World Cup Goals as Mbappé Chases Close Behind

The 2026 World Cup is underway, and it did not take long for Lionel Messi of Argentina to secure the all-time highest goal scorer title. Messi netted his 17th and 18th goals during Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria, setting a new benchmark in World Cup history. The big question now is how many more goals he will score before this tournament ends.

Mbappé Moves Up Quickly

Just hours after Messi's record-breaking feat, France’s Kylian Mbappé climbed into a tie for second place on the all-time World Cup scoring list. Other stars such as Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo remain players to watch, with both among the seven players who have reached double digits in World Cup goals.

Top World Cup Goal Scorers Throughout History

Jürgen Klinsmann, once a prolific forward and later a coach, scored 11 goals across three World Cups, including the victorious 1990 tournament for Germany. Hungarian striker Sándor Kocsis made his mark by scoring all 11 of his World Cup goals during the 1954 event, highlighted by two hat tricks, although Hungary fell short in the final.

Pelé made his debut at 17 years old during the 1958 World Cup, scoring six goals en route to Brazil’s first title. He added goals in subsequent tournaments, finishing with 12 career World Cup goals and three titles.

Just Fontaine holds the record for most goals in a single World Cup, scoring 13 in just six matches during the 1958 tournament. His performances included a four-goal game in the third-place playoff and crucial goals against top teams like Brazil.

Gerd Müller was a goal machine in the early 1970s, with 10 goals in 1970 earning him the Golden Boot and four more in 1974, the year West Germany won the championship.

Ronaldo, another Brazilian icon, scored 15 World Cup goals across the 1998, 2002, and 2006 tournaments, winning the World Cup in 2002.

Miroslav Klose was known for his clinical finishing, totaling 16 World Cup goals over four tournaments from 2002 to 2014, culminating in Germany's 2014 title.

Kylian Mbappé, still young at 27, has already scored 16 goals in 15 World Cup matches across three tournaments. After winning in 2018 and finishing runner-up in 2022, he began the 2026 campaign strongly with a brace against Senegal.

Lionel Messi continues to build his legacy with every tournament appearance. His recent hat trick against Algeria marked his first in a World Cup, and with 18 total goals, he now leads the list. This is his sixth World Cup, following a remarkable seven-goal performance that led Argentina to the championship in 2022.