All-time Top Goal Scorers at FIFA World Cups Since 1930, Ranked

FIFA World Cup 2026: All-time leading goal scorers list at every FIFA World Cup, history since 1930

Argentinean star, Lionel Messi, is the all time top scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 18 goals! German Star Miroslav Klose comes in 2nd-place with 16 goals And Brazilean Ronaldo with 15 goals sits at the 3rd-place!

Lionel Messi broke the record of Miroslav Klose on Monday when he scored for Argentina against Austria in their Group J FIFA World Cup 2026 match in Dallas.

The left-footed finish from near the six-yard box took Messi’s tally to 18 goals, two more than the German legend who ended his World Cup haul with 16 goals.

Messi had moved himself into contention for the historic achievement following his stunning hat-trick in Argentina’s opening 3-0 win over Algeria last week.

In the Table of All-time leading goal scorers List, Argentinean star, Leo Messi is the only player still plays football internationally. In his first World Cup in 2006, Leo Messi debut his World Cup scorer against Serbia-Montenegro.


This tabular list of the players with the most goals scored at the FIFA World Cup from 1930 to 2026. The Argentina striker Lionel Messi is the leading goal scorer at FIFA World Cup tournaments, having scored a total of 17 goals across recor sixth World Cups Appearances.

Top goal scorers list at each FIFA World Cup, history 1930-2026.

Player — Goals — Matches — Last comp

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) — 20 — 30 — 2026

2. Miroslav Klose (Germany) — 16 — 24 — 2014

3. Ronaldo (Brazil) — 15 — 19 — 2006

4. Gerd Müller (Germany) — 14 — 13 — 1974

5. Kylian Mbappé (France) — 18 — 18 — 2026

6. Just Fontaine (France) — 13 — 6 — 1958

7. Pelé (Brazil) — 12 — 14 — 1970

8. Sándor Kocsis (Hungary) — 11 — 5 — 1954

9. Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany) — 11 — 17 — 1998

10. Helmut Rahn (Germany) — 10 — 10 — 1958

11. Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) — 10 — 12 — 2002

12. Harry Kane (England) — 10 — 12 — 2026

13. Gary Lineker (England) — 10 — 12 — 1990

14. Teófilo Cubillas (Peru) — 10 — 13 — 1982

15. Thomas Müller (Germany) — 10 — 19 — 2022

16. Grzegorz Lato (Poland) — 10 — 20 — 1982

17. Eusébio (Portugal) — 9 — 6 — 1966

18. Christian Vieri (Italy) — 9 — 9 — 2002

19. Vavá (Brazil) — 9 — 10 — 1962

20. David Villa (Spain) — 9 — 12 — 2014

Updated on 4th July, 2026.


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statista.com