Lionel Messi has further cemented his place in football history. With 18 goals scored in FIFA World Cup tournaments, the Argentine forward now stands alone as the competition’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Thanks to his outstanding performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, currently being held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Argentina’s captain has surpassed the previous record of 16 goals set by Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who achieved the feat across four World Cup appearances.
Behind Messi, the race remains intense. France’s Kylian Mbappé has joined Klose in second place with 16 World Cup goals, scored in just three editions of the tournament, further confirming his status as one of the greatest goalscorers of his generation.
Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário completes the podium with 15 goals, followed by Germany’s Gerd Müller (14) and France’s Just Fontaine (13), who still holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup tournament, having netted all 13 in 1958.
The all-time Top 10 also features football legends such as Pelé (12 goals), Jürgen Klinsmann (11), and Sándor Kocsis(11). A group of players with 10 goals includes Gabriel Batistuta, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Gary Lineker, and Thomas Müller.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, several active players could further reshape the all-time scoring rankings, led by Messi and Mbappé, who remain in contention for the world title.
Since its inaugural edition in 1930, the FIFA World Cup has been the stage where football’s greatest legends are made, and the all-time goalscoring rankings remain one of the tournament’s most prestigious records.
