Lionel Messi vs. Kylian Mbappe goals record tracker: Updated 2026 World Cup totals in race for most all time

Lionel Messi vs. Kylian Mbappe goals record tracker: Updated 2026 World Cup totals in race for most all time originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are continuing to add to their World Cup legacies at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Both players have already found the net during this year’s tournament as they look to climb higher on the competition’s all-time scoring charts. Each goal could prove significant in the race for World Cup history.

The Sporting News is tracking the latest standings, including the leading scorers at the 2026 World Cup, the all-time goals rankings and where Messi and Mbappe stand among the tournament’s greatest goalscorers.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets

World Cup goals leaders 2026

Stats current as of July 10.

RankPlayerTeamGoals
(Penalties)AssistsMatches1.Kylian MbappeFrance8 (0)26=Lionel MessiArgentina8 (0)053.Erling HaalandNorway7 (0)054.Harry KaneEngland 6 (2)155.Ousmane DembeleFrance4 (0)24=Vinicius JuniorBrazil4 (0)15=Mikel OyarzabalSpain4 (0)15=Jude BellinghamEngland4 (0)15=Julian QuinonesMexico4 (0)15=Ismaila SarrSenegal4 (0)14

Messi has held a share of the lead in the Golden Boot race with eight goals through Argentina’s six matches thus far. Mbappe, however, does hold the tiebreaker if he and Messi draw level on goals due to the Frenchman having more assists. Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Ousmane Dembele remain in contention.

Most World Cup goals all time

Stats current as of July 10.

RankPlayerCountryGoalsMatchesTournaments (WC wins in bold)1.Lionel MessiArgentina21312006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 20262. Kylian MbappeFrance20202018, 2022, 20263.Miroslav KloseGermany16242002, 2006, 2010, 20144.RonaldoBrazil15191994, 1998, 2002, 20065.Gerd MullerWest Germany14131970, 19746.Just FontaineFrance1361958=Harry KaneEngland13152018, 2022, 20268.PeleBrazil12141958, 1962, 1966, 19709.Sandor KocsisHungary1151954=Jurgen KlinsmannWest Germany/Germany11171990, 1994, 1998=Cristiano RonaldoPortugal11262006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026

Messi’s strong start to the 2026 World Cup has seen him move clear at the top of the all-time standings, while Mbappe continues to close the gap on the players above him. The French star is the only active player other than Messi among the competition’s leading goalscorers.

How many World Cup goals does Lionel Messi have?

Messi has scored 21 goals at the FIFA World Cup, the most by any player in the tournament’s history.

The Argentina captain broke Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record during the 2026 World Cup, continuing a scoring journey that began with his first tournament goal against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. His most prolific campaign before the 2026 World Cup came in 2022, when he scored seven times to help Argentina lift the trophy in Qatar.

Messi’s record tally has come across six World Cup appearances and 31 matches.

World CupGoals200612010020144201812022720268TOTAL:21

How many World Cup goals does Kylian Mbappe have?

Mbappe has scored 20 goals at the FIFA World Cup, a mark that has pushed him ahead to the second-most in tournament history. Mbappe also became the fastest player ever to reach 20 World Cup goals, when he did so in just 20 matches.

The France star has reached that total across three World Cup appearances and remains the youngest player among the competition’s top scorers.

World CupGoals201842022820268TOTAL:20

World Cup goals record for one year

Just Fontaine’s haul of 13 goals for France at the 1958 World Cup remains the benchmark for a single tournament.

RankPlayerCountryGoalsWorld Cup1Just FontaineFrance1319582Sandor KocsisHungary1119543 Gerd MullerWest Germany1019704EusebioBrazil919665Guillermo StabileArgentina81930=RonaldoBrazil=2002=Kylian MbappeFrance=2022=Lionel MessiArgentina=2026=Kylian MbappeFrance=2026

Fontaine’s tally of 13 goals in 1958 remains one of the most enduring records in World Cup history. Mbappe’s eight-goal haul in 2022 is the closest either he or Messi has come to matching the mark, with the Argentina captain scoring seven during his country’s victorious campaign in Qatar.

Both players have added to their totals in 2026, but Fontaine’s record remains comfortably intact.

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS: