Lionel Messi has become the outright leading goalscorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history after reaching 18 career World Cup goals during the 2026 tournament.
The Argentine superstar surpassed Germany’s Miroslav Klose, whose record of 16 goals had stood for more than a decade. Messi achieved the milestone after scoring a hat-trick against Algeria and adding a brace against Austria during the group stage.
The record further cements Messi’s place among football’s greatest players as he continues to rewrite the history books at the age of 39.
Messi and Mbappé Rewrite the Record Books
While Messi now stands alone at the top of the all-time scoring charts, France captain Kylian Mbappé is also closing in on the record.
Mbappé’s latest brace moved him onto 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with Klose and placing him joint second on the all-time list.
All-Time Men’s FIFA World Cup Top Scorers
| Rank | Player | Country | Goals | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 18 | 28 |
| 2= | Kylian Mbappé | France | 16 | 16 |
| 2= | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 | 24 |
| 4 | Ronaldo | Brazil | 15 | 19 |
| 5 | Gerd Müller | West Germany | 14 | 13 |
| 6 | Just Fontaine | France | 13 | 6 |
| 7 | Pelé | Brazil | 12 | 14 |
| 8= | Jürgen Klinsmann | Germany | 11 | 17 |
| 8= | Sándor Kocsis | Hungary | 11 | 5 |
Golden Boot Race Wide Open
The battle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot is proving just as exciting as the race for the trophy itself.
Messi currently leads the scoring charts after an explosive start to the tournament, but several of the world’s top forwards remain within striking distance.
2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Standings
| Player | Country | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 5 |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 4 |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 4 |
| Deniz Undav | Germany | 3 |
| Jonathan David | Canada | 3 |
With the knockout stages approaching, the race remains wide open and every goal could prove decisive in determining both the Golden Boot winner and football history.
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