Lionel Messi Leads World Cup Goal Scorers as Mbappé Closes In

As the 2026 World Cup unfolds, Lionel Messi from Argentina has surpassed all others to become the highest goal scorer in World Cup history. He reached this milestone with his 17th and 18th goals during Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria, then added a stunning free kick against Jordan, bringing his total to 19 goals. Now, the question is how many more he'll score before the tournament ends.

Kylian Mbappé of France is hot on Messi's heels, moving into second place during the knockout rounds, but Messi maintains a slim lead.

Top World Cup Goal Scorers

No. 9 (tie): Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal (11 goals)Ronaldo joined this list late in Portugal's Round of 32 match against Croatia with his first knockout round goal, having scored twice earlier in the tournament. He has scored in all six World Cups he has participated in.
No. 9 (tie): Jürgen Klinsmann, Germany (11 goals)Known now as a former manager for the U.S. and Germany, Klinsmann was once a formidable striker, netting 11 goals across three World Cups, including the 1990 championship year for Germany.
No. 9 (tie): Sándor Kocsis, Hungary (11 goals)Kocsis scored all 11 of his World Cup goals during the 1954 tournament, including two hat tricks. Despite his scoring feats, Hungary lost the final to West Germany.
No. 8: Pelé, Brazil (12 goals)Starting at 17 years old in 1958, Pelé scored six goals and helped Brazil win the title. Over subsequent tournaments, he added more goals and titles, finishing with 12 World Cup goals.
No. 7: Just Fontaine, France (13 goals)Fontaine holds the record for most goals in a single World Cup, scoring 13 in six matches during the 1958 Sweden tournament, including multiple multi-goal games.
No. 5 (tie): Harry Kane, England (14 goals)Kane entered 2026 with eight World Cup goals and boosted his tally with multiple braces and key goals, becoming England's all-time top scorer in the competition.
No. 5 (tie): Gerd Müller, West Germany (14 goals)Müller played in just two World Cups but scored prolifically, winning the Golden Boot in 1970 and helping West Germany to victory in 1974.
No. 4: Ronaldo, Brazil (15 goals)Although part of the 1994 winning squad without playing, Ronaldo scored consistently in the next three tournaments, culminating in 15 World Cup goals.
No. 3: Miroslav Klose, Germany (16 goals)Klose is famous for his poaching ability, scoring steadily across four tournaments and helping Germany win in 2014.
No. 2: Kylian Mbappé, France (19 goals)At only 27, Mbappé has already scored 19 goals in 18 World Cup appearances, including four in 2018 and eight in 2022. He continues adding to his total in 2026.
No. 1: Lionel Messi, Argentina (20 goals)Messi has been unstoppable, scoring a hat trick in Argentina’s opener and breaking the record with a goal against Algeria, plus another on a free kick versus Jordan. In the knockout round against Cape Verde, he scored again to reach 20 World Cup goals, extending his legacy across six tournaments.