The football players with most World Cup goals are now led by Kylian Mbappé, who moved to 22 goals after an extraordinary 10-goal tournament in 2026. Lionel Messi follows with 21 after scoring eight times at the same World Cup, while former record holder Miroslav Klose is third with 16. The 2026 tournament therefore changed a record that had remained untouched since 2014.
FootballerRank counts goals scored only in the FIFA World Cup finals tournament. World Cup qualifying goals, continental competitions, international friendlies, and penalty-shootout kicks are excluded. We also preserve ties instead of forcing artificial ranking differences. Using FIFA’s post-2026 records, Mbappé is the new all-time World Cup goals leader, one goal ahead of Messi.
Key Takeaways
- Kylian Mbappé holds the men’s FIFA World Cup scoring record with 22 goals.
- Lionel Messi ranks second with 21.
- Miroslav Klose, the record holder from 2014 until 2026, is third with 16.
- Harry Kane moved level with Gerd Müller on 14 after scoring six times in 2026.
- Just Fontaine still holds the record for most goals at a single World Cup with 13 in 1958.
- World Cup qualifying goals and penalty-shootout kicks do not count in this ranking.
Football Players With the Most World Cup Goals
| Rank | Player | Country | World Cup Goals | Matches | World Cups |
| 1 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 22 | 22 | 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 21 | 34 | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| 3 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 | 24 | 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 |
| 4 | Ronaldo Nazário | Brazil | 15 | 19 | 1998, 2002, 2006 |
| 5 | Gerd Müller | West Germany | 14 | 13 | 1970, 1974 |
| 6 | Harry Kane | England | 14 | 17 | 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| 7 | Just Fontaine | France | 13 | 6 | 1958 |
| 8 | Pelé | Brazil | 12 | 14 | 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 |
| 9 | Sándor Kocsis | Hungary | 11 | 5 | 1954 |
| 10 | Jürgen Klinsmann | Germany | 11 | 17 | 1990, 1994, 1998 |
| 11 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 11 | 27 | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026 |
There are 11 players shown because Kocsis, Klinsmann, and Cristiano Ronaldo are tied on 11 goals. FootballerRank preserves statistical ties rather than inventing a tenth-place difference.
Who Has Scored the Most Goals in World Cup History?
Kylian Mbappé is the all-time leading scorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history with 22 goals.
He reached that total across only three tournaments:
- 2018 — 4 goals
- 2022 — 8 goals
- 2026 — 10 goals
That progression is extraordinary.
Mbappé entered the 2026 World Cup with 12 career goals.
At that point, he was still four behind Miroslav Klose’s record of 16.
By the end of the tournament, he had scored 10 more.
That moved him beyond:
- Just Fontaine
- Gerd Müller
- Ronaldo Nazário
- Miroslav Klose
- Lionel Messi
and into first place.
What makes the record even more impressive is his age.
Mbappé was only 27 during the 2026 tournament.
If France qualify for 2030 and he remains healthy, he will have a realistic opportunity to extend the record significantly.
1. Kylian Mbappé — 22 Goals
Country: France
World Cup goals: 22
Matches: 22
World Cups: 2018, 2022, 2026
Goals per game: 1.00
Kylian Mbappé now owns the World Cup scoring record.
He has scored exactly:
22 goals in 22 World Cup matches
That one-goal-per-game rate is remarkable considering his sample covers three tournaments.
Mbappé at the 2018 World Cup
Mbappé made his World Cup debut as a teenager.
He scored four goals.
France won the tournament.
His defining game came against Argentina in the Round of 16.
Mbappé scored twice as France won 4-3.
He also scored against Croatia in the final.
France won 4-2.
At only 19, Mbappé had already scored in a World Cup final.
Mbappé at the 2022 World Cup
His second tournament was even stronger individually.
Mbappé scored:
8 goals
France reached another final.
Against Argentina, Mbappé scored a hat-trick.
Only Geoff Hurst had previously scored three goals in a men’s World Cup final.
France eventually lost on penalties.
Mbappé still won the Golden Boot.
His career World Cup total had reached 12.
Mbappé at the 2026 World Cup
Then came his greatest scoring tournament.
Mbappé scored:
10 goals in eight matches
His goals included multiple braces.
France reached the third-place match after falling short of another final.
Mbappé scored twice in the Bronze Final against England.
Those goals moved him beyond Lionel Messi.
Final career total:
22
He also won another World Cup Golden Boot.
That means Mbappé has now finished as the tournament’s top scorer in consecutive World Cups.
Record status: No. 1 with 22 goals.
2. Lionel Messi — 21 Goals
Country: Argentina
World Cup goals: 21
Matches: 34
World Cups: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026
Lionel Messi came extremely close to finishing the 2026 World Cup as the permanent record holder.
He entered the tournament on 13.
He then scored:
8 goals
That moved him to 21.
For part of the tournament, Messi held the all-time record outright.
Mbappé eventually passed him.
Messi’s World Cup Goals by Tournament
Messi’s scoring record developed slowly compared with Mbappé’s.
2006 — 1 goal
Messi scored as a teenager against Serbia and Montenegro.
2010 — 0 goals
Argentina reached the quarter-finals, but Messi did not score.
2014 — 4 goals
Messi led Argentina to the final.
Germany won 1-0 after extra time.
2018 — 1 goal
He scored against Nigeria.
Argentina were eliminated by France.
2022 — 7 goals
Messi produced his greatest World Cup at the time.
Argentina became world champions.
He scored twice in the final against France.
2026 — 8 goals
Messi returned at 39 and produced another historic tournament.
Argentina reached the final again.
Spain defeated them 1-0 after extra time.
Messi finished with 21 career goals.
Messi’s Consecutive Scoring Record
Messi also created another remarkable World Cup scoring record.
Across 2022 and 2026, he scored in nine consecutive World Cup appearances.
That surpassed every previous player.
His run included knockout matches as well as group-stage games.
Record status: No. 2 with 21 goals.
3. Miroslav Klose — 16 Goals
Country: Germany
World Cup goals: 16
Matches: 24
World Cups: 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014
Miroslav Klose held the World Cup scoring record for 12 years.
His total of 16 was built across four tournaments.
Klose scored:
- 2002 — 5
- 2006 — 5
- 2010 — 4
- 2014 — 2
He never scored fewer than two goals at a World Cup.
That consistency separated him.
Klose Breaks Ronaldo’s Record
Klose entered the 2014 World Cup on 14 goals.
Ronaldo Nazário held the record with 15.
Klose scored against Ghana to equal Ronaldo.
Then came the semi-final against Brazil.
Germany won 7-1.
Klose scored.
It was his 16th World Cup goal.
That made him the record holder.
Germany later defeated Argentina in the final.
Klose finished his final World Cup as both:
- All-time leading scorer
- World champion
Mbappé and Messi finally passed him in 2026.
Record status: No. 3 with 16.
4. Ronaldo Nazário — 15 Goals
Country: Brazil
World Cup goals: 15
Matches: 19
Scoring tournaments: 1998, 2002, 2006
Ronaldo Nazário ranks fourth with 15.
He was part of Brazil’s 1994 squad but did not play.
His scoring record therefore came across three tournaments.
Ronaldo at France 1998
Ronaldo scored four times.
Brazil reached the final.
France won 3-0.
Ronaldo at Korea/Japan 2002
This was his defining World Cup.
Ronaldo had returned from serious knee injuries.
He scored:
8 goals
Brazil won the tournament.
Ronaldo scored both goals in the 2-0 final victory over Germany.
He won the Golden Boot.
Ronaldo at Germany 2006
Ronaldo added three more goals.
That moved him to 15.
He passed Gerd Müller’s previous record of 14.
Ronaldo remained the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer until Klose overtook him in 2014.
Record status: No. 4 with 15.
5. Gerd Müller — 14 Goals
Country: West Germany
World Cup goals: 14
Matches: 13
World Cups: 1970, 1974
Gerd Müller scored 14 World Cup goals in only 13 matches.
That gives him one of the strongest scoring rates among the historical leaders.
His first World Cup came in 1970.
He scored:
10 goals
West Germany finished third.
Müller scored hat-tricks against:
- Bulgaria
- Peru
Four years later, West Germany hosted the tournament.
Müller added four more.
His final World Cup goal was the most important.
He scored the winner against the Netherlands in the 1974 final.
West Germany won 2-1.
Müller retired from international football shortly afterwards.
He finished with 14 goals.
That became the World Cup record.
It stood until Ronaldo reached 15 in 2006.
Record status: Joint No. 5 with 14.
6. Harry Kane — 14 Goals
Country: England
World Cup goals: 14
Matches: 17
World Cups: 2018, 2022, 2026
Harry Kane moved dramatically up the ranking at the 2026 World Cup.
His tournament totals are:
- 2018 — 6 goals
- 2022 — 2 goals
- 2026 — 6 goals
Total:
14
That makes Kane the highest-scoring English player in World Cup history.
Kane at Russia 2018
Kane scored six goals.
He won the Golden Boot.
England reached the semi-finals.
Kane at Qatar 2022
He added two more.
That took him to eight overall.
Kane at World Cup 2026
Kane scored another six goals.
England eventually finished third.
His latest tournament moved him beyond Gary Lineker’s England record.
It also took him level with Gerd Müller on 14.
Kane was 32 during the tournament.
Whether he plays at another World Cup will determine if he can move even higher.
He currently needs:
- 1 goal to equal Ronaldo Nazário
- 2 to equal Klose
- 7 to equal Messi
- 8 to equal Mbappé
Record status: Joint No. 5 with 14.
7. Just Fontaine — 13 Goals
Country: France
World Cup goals: 13
Matches: 6
World Cups: 1958
Just Fontaine owns one of football’s most extraordinary records.
He scored all 13 of his World Cup goals at one tournament.
Sweden 1958 was his only World Cup.
Fontaine scored in every match France played.
His tournament included:
- Hat-trick against Paraguay
- Two goals against Yugoslavia
- Goal against Scotland
- Two against Northern Ireland
- Goal against Brazil
- Four against West Germany
France finished third.
Fontaine scored four in the third-place match.
Most Goals at One World Cup
Fontaine’s 13 remain the record for a single tournament.
Not even the expanded 2026 World Cup changed that.
Mbappé scored 10 in eight matches.
Fontaine scored 13 in six.
His goals-per-game average was:
2.17
That is extraordinary.
Record status: No. 7 overall and single-tournament record holder.
8. Pelé — 12 Goals
Country: Brazil
World Cup goals: 12
Matches: 14
World Cups: 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970
Pelé scored 12 goals across four World Cups.
His tournament breakdown was:
- 1958 — 6
- 1962 — 1
- 1966 — 1
- 1970 — 4
His scoring record is only part of the story.
Pelé also remains the only player to win three men’s World Cups.
Pelé at the 1958 World Cup
He was only 17.
Pelé scored six goals.
His tournament included a hat-trick against France in the semi-final.
He then scored twice in the final against Sweden.
Brazil won 5-2.
Pelé’s Later World Cups
He scored once in 1962 before injury reduced his role.
Brazil still won.
The 1966 tournament was far less successful.
Then came 1970.
Pelé scored four times and created repeatedly as Brazil won again.
He scored the opening goal in the 4-1 final victory over Italy.
Record status: No. 8 with 12.
9. Sándor Kocsis — 11 Goals
Country: Hungary
World Cup goals: 11
Matches: 5
World Cups: 1954
Sándor Kocsis scored all 11 of his World Cup goals at one tournament.
Hungary entered the 1954 World Cup as one of the favourites.
Kocsis was devastating.
He scored:
11 goals in five matches
That included two hat-tricks.
His goals-per-game rate was:
2.20
That is even higher than Fontaine’s overall World Cup rate.
Kocsis helped Hungary reach the final.
They faced West Germany.
Hungary had already beaten the Germans 8-3 in the group stage.
The final went differently.
West Germany won 3-2.
Kocsis therefore finished with a remarkable individual record but without the World Cup trophy.
His 11 goals stood as the World Cup career scoring record until Fontaine reached 13 in 1958.
Record status: Joint No. 9 with 11.
10. Jürgen Klinsmann — 11 Goals
Country: Germany
World Cup goals: 11
Matches: 17
World Cups: 1990, 1994, 1998
Jürgen Klinsmann scored at least three goals at each of his three World Cups.
His totals were:
- 1990 — 3
- 1994 — 5
- 1998 — 3
That gave him:
11
Klinsmann’s greatest team achievement came at his first tournament.
West Germany won the 1990 World Cup.
He remained an important scorer after reunification and returned for two more tournaments with Germany.
His five goals at USA 1994 represented his highest single-tournament total.
Klinsmann’s consistency is the main strength of his record.
He scored in all three World Cups he played.
Record status: Joint No. 9 with 11.
11. Cristiano Ronaldo — 11 Goals
Country: Portugal
World Cup goals: 11
Matches: 27
World Cups: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo joined the 11-goal group at the 2026 World Cup.
His goals were spread across six tournaments:
- 2006 — 1
- 2010 — 1
- 2014 — 1
- 2018 — 4
- 2022 — 1
- 2026 — 3
His best tournament was 2018.
Ronaldo scored four goals.
That included a hat-trick against Spain.
Ronaldo’s Six World Cups
Ronaldo became part of an extremely small group to appear at six men’s World Cups.
His longevity is unusual.
He scored at every World Cup he played.
That means he scored World Cup goals across a period of 20 years.
His 2026 goals moved him from eight career goals to 11.
That placed him level with Kocsis and Klinsmann.
Record status: Joint No. 9 with 11.
Players With 10 World Cup Goals
Immediately outside the main ranking is a large group on 10.
They include:
- Helmut Rahn
- Gabriel Batistuta
- Gary Lineker
- Teófilo Cubillas
- Thomas Müller
- Grzegorz Lato
These players miss the main ranking only because the 11-goal tie occupies the final position.
Mbappé vs Messi: Who Has More World Cup Goals?
Mbappé leads by one.
| Player | Goals | Matches |
| Kylian Mbappé | 22 | 22 |
| Lionel Messi | 21 | 34 |
| Difference | 1 | — |
Mbappé also has the much stronger goals-per-game rate.
Messi provides the larger appearance sample.
The 2026 tournament completely changed this comparison.
Messi briefly moved into first.
Mbappé then scored his way past him before the tournament ended.
Can Mbappé Extend the Record at World Cup 2030?
Yes.
Mbappé will be 31 during the 2030 World Cup.
If he remains healthy and France qualify, he could play his fourth tournament.
Even four additional goals would take him to:
26
A six-goal tournament would move him to:
28
That could create a record far harder for future players to reach.
Can Messi Play Another World Cup?
Messi was 39 during the 2026 World Cup.
A 2030 appearance would require playing the tournament at age 43.
That makes another appearance unlikely.
His 21-goal total should therefore be treated as close to final unless his international career continues much longer than expected.
Can Harry Kane Reach the Record?
Kane currently has 14.
His next World Cup would be 2030, when he would be 36.
Reaching Mbappé’s current 22 would require:
8 more goals
That would be an enormous tournament at that age.
Moving above Klose or Ronaldo is a more realistic target if Kane plays again.
Who Scored the Most Goals at One World Cup?
Just Fontaine.
He scored:
13 goals in 1958
The leading single-tournament totals include:
| Player | World Cup | Goals |
| Just Fontaine | 1958 | 13 |
| Sándor Kocsis | 1954 | 11 |
| Gerd Müller | 1970 | 10 |
| Kylian Mbappé | 2026 | 10 |
| Ademir | 1950 | 9 |
| Eusébio | 1966 | 9 |
Fontaine’s record has survived for nearly seven decades.
Even with eight matches available to some teams in the expanded 2026 format, no player reached 13.
Who Has the Best World Cup Goals-Per-Game Rate?
Among the leading historical scorers, Kocsis and Fontaine are exceptional.
Sándor Kocsis
11 goals in five matches.
2.20 goals per game
Just Fontaine
13 goals in six.
2.17 per game
Gerd Müller
14 in 13.
1.08 per game
Kylian Mbappé
22 in 22.
1.00 per game
Total goals and scoring rate answer different questions.
Mbappé has the record total.
Kocsis has the better rate among these leaders.
Who Has Won the Most World Cup Golden Boots?
Kylian Mbappé has now won the Golden Boot in consecutive tournaments:
- 2022
- 2026
In 2022, he scored eight.
In 2026, he scored 10.
Winning the award twice adds another major record to his World Cup résumé.
Did Penalty Shootout Goals Count for Messi or Mbappé?
No.
Penalty-shootout kicks do not count as official match goals.
For example, if a World Cup knockout match ends level and a player scores during the shootout, that successful kick does not increase his career World Cup goal total.
Penalties scored during normal time or extra time do count.
That distinction applies to every player.
Do World Cup Qualifying Goals Count?
No.
World Cup qualifiers are separate international matches.
A player can score dozens of goals in qualifying without adding to this ranking.
This article counts only goals scored at the finals tournament itself.
That keeps it separate from FootballerRank’s Football Players With Most International Goals page.
World Cup Goals vs International Goals
The two records should never be mixed.
World Cup goals
Only goals at FIFA World Cup finals.
International goals
Every recognized senior national-team goal can count, including:
- World Cup
- World Cup qualifying
- Continental tournaments
- Qualifiers
- Nations League
- Senior friendlies
Cristiano Ronaldo provides a clear example.
He holds the men’s international goals record.
But he does not hold the World Cup goals record.
Different statistic, different intent.
World Cup Goals vs Best World Cup Players
This article also remains separate from FootballerRank’s Best World Cup Players of All Time ranking.
That article considers:
- Goals
- Assists
- Tournament wins
- Knockout performances
- Overall influence
- Position
- Defensive contributions
- Goalkeeping
This page asks only:
Who scored the most World Cup goals?
A goalkeeper or defender could be one of the greatest World Cup players without ever appearing in this scoring table.
How the World Cup Scoring Record Changed
The all-time record has passed through several legendary players.
Guillermo Stábile
8 goals at the first World Cup in 1930.
Ademir
Moved the benchmark to 9 in 1950.
Sándor Kocsis
Scored 11 in 1954.
Just Fontaine
Raised it to 13 in 1958.
Gerd Müller
Reached 14 by 1974.
His record lasted more than three decades.
Ronaldo Nazário
Reached 15 in 2006.
Miroslav Klose
Scored his 16th in 2014.
Lionel Messi
Moved beyond Klose during the 2026 tournament and eventually reached 21.
Kylian Mbappé
Finished the same tournament on 22 and became the new record holder.
The 2026 World Cup therefore produced the fastest major change at the top of this historical record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has scored the most World Cup goals?
Kylian Mbappé holds the men’s FIFA World Cup record with 22 goals.
How many World Cup goals does Mbappé have?
Mbappé has 22 goals in 22 World Cup matches.
How many World Cup goals does Messi have?
Lionel Messi has 21 goals in 34 matches.
Who had the record before Mbappé?
Messi briefly held it during the 2026 World Cup. Before 2026, Miroslav Klose held the record with 16 from 2014.
How many World Cup goals did Klose score?
Miroslav Klose scored 16 in 24 matches.
How many World Cup goals did Ronaldo Nazário score?
Ronaldo scored 15 in 19 matches.
How many World Cup goals did Gerd Müller score?
Gerd Müller scored 14 in 13 matches.
How many World Cup goals does Harry Kane have?
Harry Kane has 14 goals in 17 matches.
Who scored the most goals at one World Cup?
Just Fontaine scored a record 13 goals for France in 1958.
How many World Cup goals did Pelé score?
Pelé scored 12 in 14 matches.
How many World Cup goals does Cristiano Ronaldo have?
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 11 across six World Cups.
Did Cristiano Ronaldo score at six World Cups?
Yes. He scored in every World Cup he played from 2006 through 2026.
Who has the best goals-per-game rate among the leading World Cup scorers?
Sándor Kocsis scored 11 in five matches, an average of 2.20 per game.
How many goals did Mbappé score at the 2026 World Cup?
He scored 10 and won the Golden Boot.
How many goals did Messi score at the 2026 World Cup?
Messi scored eight.
Do World Cup qualifying goals count?
No. Only finals-tournament goals count in this ranking.
Do penalty shootout goals count?
No. Shootout kicks are not added to a player’s official World Cup goal total.
Can Mbappé play at the 2030 World Cup?
He will be 31 in 2030, so another tournament is realistic if he remains fit and France qualify.
How often should this page be updated?
The all-time table needs a major update after every World Cup. It should also be checked during tournaments because the record can change from one match to the next.
Sources and Fact-Checking Method
FootballerRank treats this as a FIFA competition-record page.
The primary source for goal totals is FIFA.
We count only goals scored during the men’s FIFA World Cup finals tournament.
We do not include:
- World Cup qualifiers
- Continental tournaments
- Senior international friendlies
- Penalty-shootout kicks
Goals scored from penalties during normal time or extra time count normally.
The 2026 World Cup required a major update because Mbappé, Messi, Kane, and Cristiano Ronaldo all changed their historical positions.
Ties are preserved.
That is why Kocsis, Klinsmann, and Cristiano Ronaldo all appear at joint ninth rather than being separated by appearances or goals-per-game rate.
The ranking measures total goals first.
Efficiency and match totals provide context only.
This keeps Football Players With Most World Cup Goals separate from FootballerRank’s Career Goals, International Goals, and Best World Cup Players pages.
Conclusion
Kylian Mbappé now leads the football players with most World Cup goals with 22 in only 22 appearances after scoring 10 times at the 2026 tournament, while Lionel Messi follows just one behind on 21. Miroslav Klose drops to third with 16, Ronaldo Nazário is fourth with 15, and Gerd Müller and Harry Kane share fifth on 14. Just Fontaine, Pelé, Sándor Kocsis, Jürgen Klinsmann, and Cristiano Ronaldo complete the leading group, with Fontaine still holding the extraordinary single-tournament record of 13 goals from 1958. The 2026 World Cup transformed this leaderboard more than any tournament in decades, and Mbappé now has the opportunity to extend the record further if he returns in 2030.
