With the 2026 FIFA World Cup underway, attention has once again turned to the players whose goals have defined football’s biggest tournament, with Lionel Messi’s latest exploits bringing the race for the all-time scoring record back into focus.
Since the inaugural World Cup in 1930, more than 2,000 goals have been scored, but only a select few players have etched their names into history with remarkable consistency. For 16 years, former Germany striker Miroslav Klose stood alone at the summit with 16 goals scored across four World Cups.
However, the record is no longer his alone. Argentina captain Lionel Messi joined Klose at the top after scoring a hat-trick in his side’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening match of the 2026 tournament.
Messi, now featuring in his sixth World Cup, has steadily built his tally over two decades. He scored once in 2006, added four goals in 2014, one in 2018 and seven during Argentina’s triumphant 2022 campaign. His three goals against Algeria took his overall tally to 16 goals in 27 appearances, matching Klose’s mark.
Mbappe closing in on history
Messi is not the only player with a chance to rewrite the record books. France forward Kylian Mbappe is also within striking distance after continuing his prolific form on the global stage.
The 27-year-old Real Madrid star scored twice in France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal, taking his World Cup tally to 14 goals and drawing level with legendary West Germany striker Gerd Muller. Competing in his third World Cup, Mbappe has reached the milestone in just 15 matches and remains well-positioned to surpass both Messi and Klose before the tournament ends.
All-time World Cup top scorers
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 16 goals in 27 matches (6 World Cups)
1. Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 16 goals in 24 matches (4 World Cups)
3. Ronaldo Nazario (Brazil) – 15 goals in 19 matches (4 World Cups)
4. Kylian Mbappe (France) – 14 goals in 15 matches (3 World Cups)
4. Gerd Muller (West Germany) – 14 goals in 13 matches (2 World Cups)
6. Just Fontaine (France) – 13 goals in six matches (1 World Cup)
7. Pele (Brazil) – 12 goals in 14 matches (4 World Cups)
As the 2026 World Cup progresses, the battle for scoring supremacy promises to add another chapter to the tournament’s rich history. While legends such as Klose, Ronaldo Nazario and Pele have long set the benchmark, Messi and Mbappe are ensuring the record books continue to evolve on football’s grandest stage.
