FIFA World Cup all-time leading scorers

Ever since its inception in 1930, the FIFA World Cup™ has brought together the globe’s greatest players in a celebration of the beautiful game.

Prior to FIFA World Cup 2026™ Miroslav Klose led the overall scoring charts, but Lionel Messi has now overtaken him in first place after a hat-trick – his first in the World Cup – in Argentina’s opening game against Algeria, before finding the net again twice in the win over Austria, with a further goal in Argentina’s final group game with Jordan.

And the former Germany international now has another active player for company, with Kylian Mbappe continuing his astonishing exploits at the global showpiece with his back-to-back braces against Senegal and Iraq giving him 16 goals.

Here, FIFA lists the leading marksmen in World Cup history.

Lionel Messi – Argentina

Goals: 19 World Cups: Six – 2006 (one goal), 2010 (no goals), 2014 (four goals), 2018 (one goal), 2022 (seven goals), 2026 (six goals to date) Matches played: 29

Kylian Mbappe – France

Goals: 16 World Cups: Three – 2018 (four goals), 2022 (eight goals), 2026 (four goals to date) Matches played: 17

Miroslav Klose – Germany

Goals: 16 World Cups: Four – 2002 (five goals), 2006 (five goals), 2010 (four goals), 2014 (two goals) Matches played: 24

Ronaldo – Brazil

Goals: 15 World Cups: Four – 1994 (no goals), 1998 (four goals), 2002 (eight goals), 2006 (three goals) Matches played: 19

Gerd Muller – West Germany

Goals: 14 World Cups: Two – 1970 (10 goals), 1974 (four goals) Matches played: 13

Just Fontaine – France

Goals: 13 World Cups: One – 1958 Matches played: Six

Pele – Brazil

Goals: 12 World Cups: Four – 1958 (six goals), 1962 (one goal), 1966 (one goal), 1970 (four goals) Matches played: 14

Harry Kane

Goals: 11 World Cups: Three – 2018 (six goals), 2022 (two goals), 2026 (three goals to date) Matches played: 14

Jurgen Klinsmann – West Germany / Germany

Goals: 11 World Cups: Three – 1990 (three goals), 1994 (five goals), 1998 (three goals) Matches played: 17

Sandor Kocsis – Hungary

Goals: 11 World Cups: One – 1954 Matches played: Five

Gabriel Batistuta – Argentina

Goals: 10 World Cups: Three – 1994 (four goals), 1998 (five goals), 2002 (one goal) Matches played: 12

Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal

Goals: 10 World Cups: Six – 2006 (one goal), 2010 (one goal), 2014 (one goal), 2018 (four goals), 2022 (one goal), 2026 (two goals to date) Matches played: 25

Teofilo Cubillas – Peru

Goals: 10 World Cups: Three – 1970 (five goals), 1978 (five goals), 1982 (no goals) Matches played: 13

Grzegorz Lato – Poland

Goals: 10 World Cups: Three – 1974 (seven goals), 1978 (two goals), 1982 (one goal) Matches played: 20

Gary Lineker – England

Goals: 10 World Cups: Two – 1986 (six goals), 1990 (four goals) Matches played: 12

Thomas Muller – Germany

Goals: 10 World Cups: Four – 2010 (five goals), 2014 (five goals), 2018 (no goals), 2022 (no goals) Matches played: 19

Helmut Rahn – West Germany

Goals: 10 World Cups: Two – 1954 (four goals), 1958 (six goals) Matches played: 10

Ademir – Brazil

Goals: 9 World Cups: One – 1950 Matches played: Six

Roberto Baggio – Italy

Goals: 9 World Cups: Three – 1990 (two goals), 1994 (five goals), 1998 (two goals) Matches played: 16

Eusebio – Portugal

Goals: 9 World Cups: One – 1966 Matches played: Six

Jairzinho – Brazil

Goals: 9 World Cups: Three – 1966 (no goals), 1970 (seven goals), 1974 (two goals) Matches played: 16

Paolo Rossi – Italy

Goals: 9 World Cups: Two – 1978 (three goals), 1982 (six goals) Matches played: 14

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – West Germany

Goals: 9 World Cups: Three – 1978 (three goals), 1982 (five goals), 1986 (one goal) Matches played: 19

Uwe Seeler – West Germany

Goals: 9 World Cups: Four – 1958 (two goals), 1962 (two goals), 1966 (two goals), 1970 (three goals) Matches played: 21

Vava – Brazil

Goals: 9 World Cups: Two – 1958 (five goals), 1962 (four goals) Matches played: 10

Christian Vieri – Italy

Goals: 9 World Cups: Two – 1998 (five goals), 2002 (four goals) Matches played: Nine

David Villa – Spain

Goals: 9 World Cups: Three – 2006 (three goals), 2010 (five goals), 2014 (one goal) Matches played: 12

By FIFA.COM