It is clear what Lionel Messi represents to the world of soccer. Not only for what he has achieved throughout his club career, but also for what he has done while representing the Argentina national team. As he takes part in his sixth FIFA World Cup in 2026, the Argentine star arrived with 13 goals in 27 World Cup games. He scored his 14th against Algeria in their World Cup debut, then his 15th in the second half, and his 16th minutes later.
The all-time leading scorers in World Cup history are striker Miroslav Klose and now Lionel Messi. Playing for Germany across four different editions of the tournament, the German icon scored a total of 16 goals, a milestone Messi tied in his 2026 World Cup debut.
In second place is legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazario. O Fenomeno, playing for the Selecao, recorded an impressive 15 goals. In third place is another German, Gerd Muller, with 14 goals. Kylian Mbappe surpassed Pele and tied Muller with a brace against Senegal.
Lionel Messi’s World Cup goals
Lionel Messi has played in six editions of the World Cup, and he did not score in all of them. In his World Cup debut in Germany 2006, he scored once. In South Africa 2010, he did not score, while in Brazil 2014, where he reached the final, he scored four goals.
Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring his sides first goal.
His campaign in Russia 2018 ended in the round of 16, where he scored once. In Qatar 2022, he reached the pinnacle, scoring seven goals, two of them in the final, and was crowned World Cup champion.
- Germany 2006, vs Serbia & Montenegro
- Brazil 2014, vs Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Brazil 2014, vs Iran
- Brazil 2014, vs Nigeria (x2)
- Russia 2018, vs Nigeria
- Qatar 2022, vs Saudi Arabia
- Qatar 2022, vs Mexico
- Qatar 2022, vs Australia
- Qatar 2022, vs Netherlands
- Qatar 2022, vs Croatia
- Qatar 2022, vs France (x2)
- Mexico, United States, and Canada, vs Algeria (x3)
The intriguing case of Fontaine in World Cup history
The legacy of French striker Just Fontaine remains etched in soccer history as one of the most astonishing individual achievements of all time. During the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, Fontaine scored a staggering 13 goals in just six matches, setting a record for the most goals ever scored by a player in a single edition of the tournament.
What makes this feat even more legendary is its timelessness; despite the evolution of the game, tactical advancements, and an increased number of matches in modern tournaments, his spectacular goal-scoring exploit has never been matched. Fontaine’s 1958 masterclass endures as an unbreakable milestone, cementing his place as an eternal icon of world soccer.
Complete list of 2026 World Cup top scorers
- Miroslav Klose, 16 Goals (Germany)
- Lionel Messi, 16 Goals (Argentina)*
- Ronaldo, 15 Goals (Brazil)
- Gerd Muller, 14 Goals (Germany)
- Kylian Mbappe, 14 goals (France)*
- Just Fontaine, 13 Goals (France)
- Pele, 12 Goals (Brazil)
- Jurgen Klinsmann, 11 Goals (Germany)
- Sandor Kocsis, 11 Goals (Hungary)
- Gabriel Batistuta, 10 Goals (Argentina)
*Currently competing at 2026 World Cup.
