Most goals in World Cup history: Where do Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé rank among all-time goal scorers after opening games?

With the 2026 World Cup in full swing, there are several current stars who could usurp the legends of the game and write their names in history over the next month.

Who has the most goals in World Cup history? And will players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé or Cristiano Ronaldo climb the list at this World Cup?

Here are the highest-scoring players in the history of FIFA’s quadrennial global tournament.

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Klinsmann is probably better known now as a former U.S. and Germany manager, but in his heyday, the forward was a scoring menace. He tallied 11 goals across three World Cups, including in 1990 when Germany won the tournament.

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Kocsis had a national team record of seven hat tricks for Hungary and scored all 11 of his World Cup goals at the 1954 tournament. He had two hat tricks in that World Cup but the Hungarians fell in the final against West Germany.

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As an all-time great, the Brazilian legend needs no introduction. He made his debut at the 1958 World Cup and delivered six goals as a 17-year-old as Brazil won it all. He only played in four matches total over the following two World Cups, but Brazil won it all again in 1962. To cap off his career, he led his country to another title at the 1970 World Cup for a total of 12 goals.

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France striker Just Fontaine stands alone in history in terms of goals at a single World Cup. He scored an astonishing 13 goals in six games at Sweden 1958 – a record for one World Cup. ‘Justo’ hit a hat trick, two braces, a game-winner, a goal against champion Brazil and a four-goal outing in the third-place playoff game.

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Müller is another player whose efficiency has stood the test of time. He only played in two World Cups (1970 and 1974), but delivered 10 goals to win the Golden Boot in the former and added another four goals in his second and final tournament, which West Germany won.

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The French sparkplug has rapidly ascended this list and is expected to chase Lionel Messi at the top of it. He’s only 27 years old and has 14 goals in 15 World Cup games. He had four in his debut at the 2018 World Cup when France won it all, eight in 2022 when France lost to Argentina in the title game, and he just started off his 2026 campaign with a brace against Senegal.

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Another Brazilian legend, Ronaldo made the World Cup-winning 1994 team but didn’t see any action. Over the next three tournaments though, Ronaldo went on a tear, scoring four goals in 1998, eight in 2002 when Brazil won it all, and then he tacked on another three at his final World Cup in 2006.

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The Argentinian is simply adding to his legacy with every dart through an opposing defense. He shredded Algeria for his first World Cup hat trick on Tuesday, and will assuredly assume the top spot on this list at some point this tournament. This is Messi’s sixth World Cup as he looks to follow up the 2022 tournament where he scored seven goals and led Argentina to the title.

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The name that’s been mentioned a lot as Messi and Mbappé pursue history, Klose was best known as a relentless poacher who never missed an opportunity in front of the net. The striker had five goals each in 2002 and 2006. Then he added another four in 2010 and capped off his international career with two more at the 2014 World Cup as Germany hoisted the trophy.