FIFA World Cup updates all-time top goalscorers list as Messi claims record
Lionel Messi surpasses Miroslav Klose's long-standing mark with 18 career World Cup goals during the 2026 tournament
Lionel Messi has done what even his most devoted fans once considered a long shot. The Argentine forward now sits alone atop the all-time FIFA World Cup goalscoring list with 18 career goals, breaking a record that Miroslav Klose held for over a decade.
Klose’s mark of 16 goals, set across four tournaments and standing since 2014, was considered one of football’s more durable records. Messi dismantled it in a matter of days during the 2026 World Cup, scoring his 17th and 18th career World Cup goals in matches played between June 17 and June 22.
The new hierarchy
The updated all-time leaderboard now reads like a who’s who of footballing royalty, with Messi’s 18 goals creating clear separation at the top. Klose remains in second place with 16, a total that seemed untouchable for years. Brazil’s Ronaldo sits third with 15 career World Cup goals.
The French star Kylian Mbappé currently has 14 World Cup goals, placing him level with German legend Gerd Müller.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, features an expanded 48-team format for the first time.
What makes this record different
Klose built his record through relentless consistency: five goals in 2002, five more in 2006, four in 2010, and two in 2014.
Messi’s path has been different. For years, the World Cup was the one glaring gap on his resume. He reached the final in 2014 but couldn’t lift the trophy. The narrative shifted dramatically in 2022 when Argentina won it all in Qatar, with Messi delivering performances that silenced a generation of critics.
Context and what comes next
The 2026 World Cup’s expanded format has created a fascinating competitive landscape. With 48 teams instead of the traditional 32, there are more group-stage matches and, theoretically, more opportunities for lopsided results where top players can run up their numbers against weaker opposition.
For Argentina, Messi’s scoring form adds firepower to their pursuit of another title. The defending champions entered the 2026 tournament as one of the favorites.