Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi top overall World Cup scoring chart
Brazil great Ronaldo stands just one goal behind
Kylian Mbappe has climbed above compatriot Just Fontaine
Ever since its inception in 1930, the FIFA World Cup™ has brought together the globe's greatest players in a celebration of the beautiful game.
Here, FIFA lists the leading marksmen in World Cup history, with two men heading the pack as joint-holders of the all-time record as FIFA World Cup 2026™ rumbles on.
Prior to the tournament, Miroslav Klose was the outright leader, but Lionel Messi has now joined him at the top of the charts after a hat-trick - his first in the World Cup - in their opening game against Algeria.
Miroslav Klose - Germany
Goals: 16 World Cups: Four - 2002 (five goals), 2006 (five goals), 2010 (four goals), 2014 (two goals) Matches played: 24
Lionel Messi - Argentina
Goals: 16 World Cups: Six - 2006 (one goal), 2010 (no goals), 2014 (four goals), 2018 (one goal), 2022 (seven goals), 2026 (three goals to date) Matches played: 27
Ronaldo - Brazil
Goals: 15 World Cups: Four - 1994 (no goals), 1998 (four goals), 2002 (eight goals), 2006 (three goals) Matches played: 19
Gerd Muller - West Germany
Goals: 14 World Cups: Two - 1970 (10 goals), 1974 (four goals) Matches played: 13
Kylian Mbappe - France
Goals: 14 World Cups: Three - 2018 (four goals), 2022 (eight goals), 2026 (two goals to date) Matches played: 15
Just Fontaine - France
Goals: 13 World Cups: One - 1958 Matches played: Six
Pele - Brazil
Goals: 12 World Cups: Four - 1958 (six goals), 1962 (one goal), 1966 (one goal), 1970 (four goals) Matches played: 14
Jurgen Klinsmann - West Germany / Germany
Goals: 11 World Cups: Three - 1990 (three goals), 1994 (five goals), 1998 (three goals) Matches played: 17
Sandor Kocsis - Hungary
Goals: 11 World Cups: One - 1954 Matches played: Five
Gabriel Batistuta - Argentina
Goals: 10 World Cups: Three - 1994 (four goals), 1998 (five goals), 2002 (one goal) Matches played: 12
Teofilo Cubillas - Peru
Goals: 10 World Cups: Three - 1970 (five goals), 1978 (five goals), 1982 (no goals) Matches played: 13
Grzegorz Lato - Poland
Goals: 10 World Cups: Three - 1974 (seven goals), 1978 (two goals), 1982 (one goal) Matches played: 20
Gary Lineker - England
Goals: 10 World Cups: Two - 1986 (six goals), 1990 (four goals) Matches played: 12
Thomas Muller - Germany
Goals: 10 World Cups: Four - 2010 (five goals), 2014 (five goals), 2018 (no goals), 2022 (no goals) Matches played: 19
Helmut Rahn - West Germany
Goals: 10 World Cups: Two - 1954 (four goals), 1958 (six goals) Matches played: 10
Ademir - Brazil
Goals: 9 World Cups: One - 1950 Matches played: Six
Roberto Baggio - Italy
Goals: 9 World Cups: Three - 1990 (two goals), 1994 (five goals), 1998 (two goals) Matches played: 16
Eusebio - Portugal
Goals: 9 World Cups: One - 1966 Matches played: Six
Jairzinho - Brazil
Goals: 9 World Cups: Three - 1966 (no goals), 1970 (seven goals), 1974 (two goals) Matches played: 16
Paolo Rossi - Italy
Goals: 9 World Cups: Two - 1978 (three goals), 1982 (six goals) Matches played: 14
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge - West Germany
Goals: 9 World Cups: Three - 1978 (three goals), 1982 (five goals), 1986 (one goal) Matches played: 19
Uwe Seeler - West Germany
Goals: 9 World Cups: Four - 1958 (two goals), 1962 (two goals), 1966 (two goals), 1970 (three goals) Matches played: 21
Vava - Brazil
Goals: 9 World Cups: Two - 1958 (five goals), 1962 (four goals) Matches played: 10
Christian Vieri - Italy
Goals: 9 World Cups: Two - 1998 (five goals), 2002 (four goals) Matches played: Nine
David Villa - Spain
Goals: 9 World Cups: Three - 2006 (three goals), 2010 (five goals), 2014 (one goal) Matches played: 12