Top Scorers at the World Cup of All Time
Since the first World Cup in 1930, only a handful of players have managed to etch their names into history as true World Cup goalscoring legends. Over 2,700 goals have been scored across 22 tournaments but the record belongs to Germany's Miroslav Klose with 16 goals across four World Cups. Here is the definitive list of the greatest World Cup goalscorers of all time.
| Rank | Player | Country | Goals | Tournaments | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 | 4 | 2002–2014 |
| 🥈 | Ronaldo R9 | Brazil | 15 | 4 | 1994–2006 |
| 🥉 | Lionel Messi2026 updated | Argentina | 14 | 5 | 2006–2026 |
| 4 | Gerd Müller | West Germany | 14 | 2 | 1970–1974 |
| 5 | Just Fontaine | France | 13 | 1 | 1958 |
| 6 | Kylian Mbappé2026 ongoing | France | 12 | 3 | 2018–2026 |
| 7 | Pelé | Brazil | 12 | 4 | 1958–1970 |
| 8 | Sándor Kocsis | Hungary | 11 | 1 | 1954 |
| 9 | Jürgen Klinsmann | Germany | 11 | 3 | 1990–1998 |
| 10 | Gary Lineker | England | 10 | 2 | 1986–1990 |
Key Facts
- →Just Fontaine scored 13 goals in a single tournament in 1958 — an untouched record
- →Klose is the only player to score 5 or more goals at three different World Cups
- →Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player to score in five World Cups
- →Messi has scored 14 World Cup goals across five tournaments — now joint 3rd all time alongside Gerd Müller
- →Mbappé is at 12+ goals across 2018, 2022 and 2026 — the most likely player to break Klose's record
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the all-time top scorer at the World Cup?
Miroslav Klose of Germany is the all-time top scorer at the FIFA World Cup with 16 goals scored across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014.
Who scored the most goals in a single World Cup?
Just Fontaine of France scored 13 goals in just six matches at the 1958 World Cup — a record that has never been beaten.
How many World Cup goals has Lionel Messi scored?
Lionel Messi has scored 14 World Cup goals across five tournaments from 2006 to 2026, placing him joint third all time alongside Gerd Müller. Messi won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina and is playing at the 2026 tournament.
How many World Cup goals has Kylian Mbappé scored?
Kylian Mbappé has scored 12 World Cup goals across three tournaments — 2018, 2022 and 2026 — making him the most likely player to break Klose's all-time record.
Did Cristiano Ronaldo score at five World Cups?
Yes. Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player in history to have scored at five different World Cup tournaments.
How many World Cup goals did Pelé score?
Pelé scored 12 goals across four World Cup tournaments between 1958 and 1970, winning the Golden Boot at the 1958 tournament aged just 17.
Who holds the record for most World Cup goals in one game?
Oleg Salenko of Russia scored five goals in a single World Cup match against Cameroon at the 1994 World Cup — the most by any player in one game.
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