Mbappé breaks World Cup scoring record
France captain Kylian Mbappé has become the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer after ending the 2026 tournament with 22 goals, overtaking Argentina legend Lionel Messi at the top of the historic scoring chart.
The updated rankings, released by FIFA following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup in the United States on Sunday, show Mbappé leading the all-time list with 22 goals from just 22 World Cup appearances. Messi, who has retired from international football, finished second with 21 goals scored across a record 34 matches in six World Cup tournaments.
*Mbappe
Etim Ekpimah
France captain Kylian Mbappé has become the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer after ending the 2026 tournament with 22 goals, overtaking Argentina legend Lionel Messi at the top of the historic scoring chart.
The updated rankings, released by FIFA following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup in the United States on Sunday, show Mbappé leading the all-time list with 22 goals from just 22 World Cup appearances. Messi, who has retired from international football, finished second with 21 goals scored across a record 34 matches in six World Cup tournaments.
Former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who held the outright record for more than a decade with 16 goals, has dropped to third place.
Brazilian great Ronaldo Nazário is fourth with 15 goals in 19 appearances, while Germany’s Gerd Müller and England captain Harry Kane share fifth place with 14 goals each. Müller reached the milestone in only 13 matches, compared with Kane’s 18.
France legend Just Fontaine remains one of the tournament’s most prolific scorers, netting 13 goals in just six matches at the 1958 World Cup.
Brazil icon Pelé occupies eighth place with 12 goals in 14 World Cup appearances.
Germany’s Jürgen Klinsmann, Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis, and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo are tied on 11 goals. Klinsmann scored his goals in 17 matches, Kocsis achieved the feat in only five, while Cristiano Ronaldo finished his World Cup career with 11 goals in 27 appearances.
FIFA World Cup all-time leading goalscorers
- Kylian Mbappé (France) – 22 goals in 22 matches
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 21 goals in 34 matches
- Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 16 goals in 2aa4 matches
- Ronaldo (Brazil) – 15 goals in 19 matches
- Gerd Müller (Germany) – 14 goals in 13 matches
- Harry Kane (England) – 14 goals in 18 matches
- Just Fontaine (France) – 13 goals in six matches
- Pelé (Brazil) – 12 goals in 14 matches
- Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany) – 11 goals in 17 matches
- Sándor Kocsis (Hungary) – 11 goals in five matches
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 11 goals in 27 matches.
