Lionel Messi kicked off his 2026 World Cup journey by scoring a hat-trick in a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria. This remarkable performance brought his career total to 16 goals in World Cup matches, equaling the long-standing record set by Miroslav Klose.
With the tournament progressing, it is likely that the Inter Miami star will break this record during the summer. However, he faces stiff competition from Kylian Mbappé, who netted two goals in France’s opening match against Senegal, bringing his overall tally to 14 goals since debuting in the competition eight years ago.
Top World Cup Goalscorers
The following list highlights the top 20 goalscorers in World Cup history, based on statistics provided by Transfermarkt. In cases where players are tied in goals, preference is given to the individual with fewer appearances.
Fans in England are hopeful that Harry Kane will quickly climb this list, as he aims to add to his current total of eight goals.
