FIFA World Cup all-time leading scorers

Lionel Messi has overtaken Miroslav Klose to top the overall World Cup finding the net chart

In response, kylian Mbappe has moved level with the German after two fixtures of World Cup 2026

Brazil great Ronaldo stands one strike behind Mbappe, as well as Klose in fourth

Ever since its inception in 1930, the FIFA World Cup™ has brought together the globe's greatest stars in a jubilation of the beautiful fixture.

Prior to FIFA World Cup 2026™ Miroslav Klose held the advantage the overall finding the net charts, but Lionel Messi has now overtaken him in opening place after a treble - his opening in the World Cup - in Argentina's opening fixture against Algeria, before finding the net again twice against Austria.

And the former Germany international now has another active star for company, with Kylian Mbappe continuing his staggering exploits at the global showpiece with his back-to-back braces against Senegal, as well as Iraq giving him 16 strikes from only 16 outings.

Here, FIFA lists the leading marksmen in World Cup history books.

Lionel Messi - Argentina

Strikes: 18 World Cups: Six - 2006 (one strike), 2010 (no strikes), 2014 (four strikes), 2018 (one strike), 2022 (seven strikes), 2026 (five strikes to date) Contests played: 28

As a result, kylian Mbappe - France

As a result, strikes: 16 World Cups: Three - 2018 (four strikes), 2022 (eight strikes), 2026 (four strikes to date) Contests played: 16

Miroslav Klose - Germany

Strikes: 16 World Cups: Four - 2002 (five strikes), 2006 (five strikes), 2010 (four strikes), 2014 (two strikes) Contests played: 24

Ronaldo - Brazil

On the other side, strikes: 15 World Cups: Four - 1994 (no strikes), 1998 (four strikes), 2002 (eight strikes), 2006 (three strikes) Contests played: 19

On the other side, gerd Muller - West Germany

Building on that, strikes: 14 World Cups: Two - 1970 (10 strikes), 1974 (four strikes) Contests played: 13

Just Fontaine - France

Strikes: 13 World Cups: One - 1958 Contests played: Six

Pele - Brazil

Strikes: 12 World Cups: Four - 1958 (six strikes), 1962 (one strike), 1966 (one strike), 1970 (four strikes) Contests played: 14

Jurgen Klinsmann - West Germany / Germany

Strikes: 11 World Cups: Three - 1990 (three strikes), 1994 (five strikes), 1998 (three strikes) Contests played: 17

Sandor Kocsis - Hungary

Strikes: 11 World Cups: One - 1954 Contests played: Five

Meanwhile, gabriel Batistuta - Argentina

Strikes: 10 World Cups: Three - 1994 (four strikes), 1998 (five strikes), 2002 (one strike) Contests played: 12

Teofilo Cubillas - Peru

Furthermore, strikes: 10 World Cups: Three - 1970 (five strikes), 1978 (five strikes), 1982 (no strikes) Contests played: 13

Harry Kane

Strikes: 10 World Cups: Three – 2018 (six strikes), 2022 (two strikes), 2026 (two strikes to date) Contests played: 12

Grzegorz Lato - Poland

Strikes: 10 World Cups: Three - 1974 (seven strikes), 1978 (two strikes), 1982 (one strike) Contests played: 20

Gary Lineker - England

Strikes: 10 World Cups: Two - 1986 (six strikes), 1990 (four strikes) Contests played: 12

Thomas Muller - Germany

In response, strikes: 10 World Cups: Four - 2010 (five strikes), 2014 (five strikes), 2018 (no strikes), 2022 (no strikes) Contests played: 19

Helmut Rahn - West Germany

Strikes: 10 World Cups: Two - 1954 (four strikes), 1958 (six strikes) Contests played: 10

Ademir - Brazil

Strikes: 9 World Cups: One - 1950 Contests played: Six

Roberto Baggio - Italy

Strikes: 9 World Cups: Three - 1990 (two strikes), 1994 (five strikes), 1998 (two strikes) Contests played: 16

Eusebio - Portugal

Strikes: 9 World Cups: One - 1966 Contests played: Six

Jairzinho - Brazil

Strikes: 9 World Cups: Three - 1966 (no strikes), 1970 (seven strikes), 1974 (two strikes) Contests played: 16

Paolo Rossi - Italy

Building on that, strikes: 9 World Cups: Two - 1978 (three strikes), 1982 (six strikes) Contests played: 14

Meanwhile, karl-Heinz Rummenigge - West Germany

Strikes: 9 World Cups: Three - 1978 (three strikes), 1982 (five strikes), 1986 (one strike) Contests played: 19

In response, uwe Seeler - West Germany

Strikes: 9 World Cups: Four - 1958 (two strikes), 1962 (two strikes), 1966 (two strikes), 1970 (three strikes) Contests played: 21

Vava - Brazil

Strikes: 9 World Cups: Two - 1958 (five strikes), 1962 (four strikes) Contests played: 10

Building on that, christian Vieri - Italy

Strikes: 9 World Cups: Two - 1998 (five strikes), 2002 (four strikes) Contests played: Nine

David Villa - Spain

Strikes: 9 World Cups: Three - 2006 (three strikes), 2010 (five strikes), 2014 (one strike) Contests played: 12