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The 2026 version of the is properly underway, and the world’s greatest are again out on the pitch for an additional chase on the trophy.
All through historical past, a handful of gamers have separated themselves from the remainder of the pack as high goalscorers within the event. and are the energetic gamers within the high 10 of the leaderboard suiting up for the 2026 World Cup.
It’s value taking a look at how Mbappe and Messi stack up throughout the event’s historical past. Who has extra World Cup objectives, the Frenchman or the “Little Boy From Rosario”?
This is an inventory of the gamers with their names on the scoresheet essentially the most occasions in World Cup historical past.
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Most objectives in World Cup historical past
Rank
Participant
Nation
Targets
Matches
Tournaments (WC wins in daring)
1.
Lionel Messi
18
28
2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026
2.
Miroslav Klose
16
24
2002, 2006, 2010, 2014
=
Kylian Mbappe*
16
16
2018, 2022, 2026
4.
15
19
1994, 1998, 2002, 2006
=
Kylian Mbappe*
France
15
16
2018, 2022, 2026
6.
Gerd Muller
West Germany
14
13
1970, 1974
7.
Simply Fontaine
France
13
6
1958
8.
Pele
Brazil
12
14
1958, 1962, 1966, 1970
9.
Sandor Kocsis
Hungary
11
5
1954
=
Jurgen Klinsmann
West Germany/Germany
11
17
1990, 1994, 1998
11
Helmut Rahn
West Germany
10
10
1954, 1958
=
Gary Lineker
10
12
1986, 1990
=
Gabriel Batistuta
Argentina
10
12
1994, 1998, 2002
=
Teofilo Cubillas
Peru
10
13
1970, 1978, 1982
=
Germany
10
19
2010, 2014, 2018, 2022
=
Grzegorz Lato
Poland
10
20
1974, 1978, 1982
=
*
England
10
12
2018. 2022. 2026
Key: * signifies an energetic participant, yr in daring means a World Cup received
MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:
What number of World Cup objectives does Messi have?
18 objectives (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Heading into the 2026 World Cup, Messi had scored 13 objectives throughout his 5 event campaigns. In 2022, he lastly received to hoist that elusive World Cup trophy along with his nation, which formally immortalized him in soccer historical past, if he wasn’t already there. Within the remaining match in opposition to France, Messi added two objectives to his tally and stretched his 2022 event complete to a whopping seven objectives.
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Throughout Argentina’s first group-stage match of the 2026 World Cup, Messi was capable of put not one, not two, however three objectives previous of . It was the primary World Cup hat trick of his profession and tied him with Miroslav Klose because the all-time main goalscorer in World Cup historical past. The record-breaker got here simply days later, because the legend turned in a classic end in his group’s second group-stage match, a conflict with .
The historic purpose got here within the recreation’s first half, simply minutes after Messi missed a penalty kick. Right here is the purpose that gave the Argentine the document in addition to video of the hat trick that set the stage days earlier. .
What number of World Cup objectives does Miroslav Klose have?
16 objectives (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
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Klose has scored 16 objectives within the World Cup. Earlier than Messi equaled his tally on the 2026 World Cup, the German stood alone as the highest goalscorer in World Cup historical past. He lastly received that final purpose to place him above Ronaldo (Brazil) throughout one of the vital well-known World Cup semifinal matches in event historical past, when Germany dismantled the Brazilian hosts 7-1. With the purpose, Klose received the very best of Brazil each on the pitch and within the document books. He additionally pushed forward as Germany’s all-time main scorer on the World Cup.
Right here is Klose’s purpose from that night time in Belo Horizonte:
What number of World Cup objectives does Ronaldo have?
15 objectives (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006)
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The goalscorer who sits with the second-most objectives has a reputation soccer followers might know: Ronaldo. Nevertheless, this isn’t Cristiano Ronaldo from ; that is Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima of Brazil. Ronaldo is commonly touted as top-of-the-line forwards in soccer historical past, and his World Cup scoresheet-stuffing efforts solely add to his unbelievable legacy. Together with presently having the second-most objectives within the event’s historical past, he’s Brazil’s all-time main scorer on the World Cup.
Right here is the two-time World Cup winner’s .
What number of World Cup objectives does Mbappe have?
16 objectives (2018, 2022, 2026)
Mbappe put his thirteenth purpose behind the web throughout France’s 2026 World Cup opener in opposition to . Regardless of being solely 27 years previous, Mbappe has already established himself as one in all France’s all-time greats with a French-record 57 objectives by way of 99 worldwide video games, .
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Right here is Mbappe’s first purpose in opposition to Senegal that moved him up the all-time World Cup goalscorer leaderboard:
In stoppage time, Mbappe added his second purpose of the sport and moved forward of to turn into France’s all-time main worldwide goalscorer with 58 objectives. The strike was a rocket previous and into the higher nook, placing France up 3-1 and ending any likelihood Senegal had of mounting a comeback.
Right here is Mbappe’s history-making purpose:
Mbappe scored his fifteenth and fifteenth World Cup objectives in opposition to Iraq in 2026 and appears poised to proceed climbing the checklist of World Cup purpose scorers. The highest spot is unquestionably within the 27-year-old’s sights.
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This is video of Mbappe’s finishes in opposition to the Iraqis.
What number of World Cup objectives does Gerd Muller have?
Regardless of solely enjoying in two World Cups, Muller put 14 objectives previous opposing goalkeepers. The West Germany ahead is an all-timer for West Germany, and even all through Germany’s group historical past as an entire. He famously received the 1974 World Cup for his nation by scoring the successful purpose in opposition to the Netherlands to interrupt a 1-1 tie. After the event, he formally retired from worldwide soccer after the German Soccer Affiliation wouldn’t let the gamers’ wives be a part of the group’s celebration after they received the event.
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Right here is Muller’s purpose in opposition to the Netherlands:
What number of World Cup objectives does Simply Fontaine have?
Sure, that reads proper. In a single 1958 World Cup, Fontaine scored 13 objectives. The document nonetheless stands immediately, and should by no means be damaged. By means of six matches in that lone event, he averaged simply over two objectives a recreation. In his debut in opposition to , he scored a hat trick. France ended up falling within the semifinals to the eventual champion Brazil, however not earlier than Fontaine added 4 extra objectives to his event tally in opposition to Germany within the third-place match.
Listed below are Fontaine’s highlights from the 1958 World Cup:
What number of World Cup objectives does Pele have?
12 objectives (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970)
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One in every of soccer’s greatest icons, Pele, has given his nation 12 objectives on the World Cup. He shared the pitch with Fontaine in the course of the 1958 semifinal in and scored a hat trick in that match to turn into the youngest participant in World Cup historical past to attain a hat trick (17 years & 244 days), . Within the remaining in opposition to host Sweden, Pele scored two extra objectives en path to a 5-2 victory to ship the World Cup trophy to Brazil for the primary time.
Listed below are the Brazilian’s highlights from that 1958 World Cup Closing in Solna, Sweden:
What number of World Cup objectives does Cristiano Ronaldo have?
8 objectives (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
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By means of 5 earlier editions of the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored eight occasions. The Portuguese ahead’s event purpose complete is presently tied for twenty sixth on the all-time checklist, a mark he shares with Diego Maradona, Brazil’s , and England’s Harry Kane. All eight of Ronaldo’s objectives have come within the group stage; the Saudi League star continues to be vying for his first purpose within the knockout levels heading into the 2026 World Cup.
In 2022, Ronaldo grew to become the primary male participant to attain in 5 separate World Cup tournaments after slotting a penalty kick in ‘s web. Listed below are a number of fan angles of his most up-to-date World Cup purpose: