Lionel Messi made history becomes FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading goal-scorer with record most 18 goals.
Inter Miami CF captain Leo Messi added another remarkable milestone to his legendary career this evening, becoming the FIFA World Cup™’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer as he scored his record-breaking 17th World Cup goal to open the scoring in Argentina’s group stage match against Austria.
With the strike, Messi surpassed former Germany forward Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 World Cup goals. The achievement comes during Messi’s sixth FIFA World Cup™ campaign, making him the first men’s player ever to appear in six editions of the tournament (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026).
Lionel Messi's FIFA Football World Cup goals, List of All 18 Goal Scores in WC
At his joint-record sixth World Cup, Messi becomes the competition's all-time top goalscorer.
June 16, 2006 vs. Serbia and Montenegro: 1 goal
June 15, 2014 vs. Bosnia: 1 goal
June 21, 2014 vs. Iran: 1 goal
June 25, 2014 vs. Nigeria: 2 goals
June 26, 2018 vs. Nigeria: 1 goal
November 22, 2022 vs. Saudi Arabia: 1 goal
November 26, 2022 vs. Mexico: 1 goal
December 3, 2022 vs. Australia: 1 goal
December 9, 2022 vs. Netherlands: 1 goal
December 13, 2022 vs. Croatia: 1 goal
December 18, 2022 vs. France: 2 goals
June 16, 2026 vs. Algeria: 3 goals - Hat-trick
June 22, 2026 vs. Austria: 2 goals
June 27, 2026 vs. Jordan: 1 goal
July 4, 2026 vs. Cabo Verde: 1 goal
Updated on 4th July, 2026.
Argentinean' Lionel Mess is Football World Cup Icon
Messi's record 17 goals are the latest World Cup milestone for the game's most decorated player of all time.
A champion with Argentina at Qatar 2022, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is also the only two-time winner of the World Cup Golden Ball, given to the tournament's best overall player.
Messi now has 17g/8a in 28 World Cup appearances, as he looks to guide Argentina to the first back-to-back World Cup titles since Italy (1934, '38) and Brazil (1958, '62).
All-time greatest: who is the most goal scorer in football World Cup history?
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) — 18 — 28 — 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) — 16 — 16 — 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
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