FIFA World Cup all-time leading scorers

Lionel Messi, Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Pele, Gerd Muller and Just Fontaine among the many greats to feature.

• Lionel Messi has overtaken Miroslav Klose to top the overall World Cup scoring chart

• Kylian Mbappe has moved level with the German after two games of World Cup 2026

• Brazil great Ronaldo stands one goal behind Mbappe and Klose in fourth

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.

Prior to FIFA World Cup 2026™ Miroslav Klose led the overall scoring charts, but Lionel Messi has now overtaken him in first place after a hat-trick - his first in the World Cup - in Argentina's opening game against Algeria, before finding the net again twice against Austria.

And the former Germany international now has another active player for company, with Kylian Mbappe continuing his astonishing exploits at the global showpiece with his back-to-back braces against Senegal and Iraq giving him 16 goals from only 16 outings.

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

Lionel Messi - Argentina

Goals: 18 World Cups: Six - 2006 (one goal), 2010 (no goals), 2014 (four goals), 2018 (one goal), 2022 (seven goals), 2026 (five goals to date) Matches played: 28

Lionel Messi | All FIFA World Cup goalsWatch every goal Lionel Messi has scored at the FIFA World Cup.

Kylian Mbappe - France

Goals: 16 World Cups: Three - 2018 (four goals), 2022 (eight goals), 2026 (four goals to date) Matches played: 16

Kylian Mbappe | All FIFA World Cup goalsWatch all of Kylian Mbappe's record-setting FIFA World Cup goals.

Miroslav Klose - Germany

Goals: 16 World Cups: Four - 2002 (five goals), 2006 (five goals), 2010 (four goals), 2014 (two goals) Matches played: 24

Miroslav Klose | Germany | Classic PlayersWatch some of the best players ever to participate in the FIFA World Cup™.

Ronaldo - Brazil

Goals: 15 World Cups: Four - 1994 (no goals), 1998 (four goals), 2002 (eight goals), 2006 (three goals) Matches played: 19

Ronaldo | Brazil | Classic PlayersWatch some of the best players ever to participate in the FIFA World Cup™.

Gerd Muller - West Germany

Goals: 14 World Cups: Two - 1970 (10 goals), 1974 (four goals) Matches played: 13

Gerd Müller | Germany FR | Classic PlayersWatch some of the best players ever to participate in the FIFA World Cup™.

Just Fontaine - France

Goals: 13 World Cups: One - 1958 Matches played: Six

Just Fontaine | France | Classic PlayersWatch some of the best players ever to participate in the FIFA World Cup™.

Pele - Brazil

Goals: 12 World Cups: Four - 1958 (six goals), 1962 (one goal), 1966 (one goal), 1970 (four goals) Matches played: 14

00:57 / 00:57 Pelé | Brazil | Classic PlayersWatch some of the best players ever to participate in the FIFA World Cup™.

Jurgen Klinsmann - West Germany / Germany

Goals: 11 World Cups: Three - 1990 (three goals), 1994 (five goals), 1998 (three goals) Matches played: 17

Jürgen Klinsmann | Germany | Classic PlayersWatch some of the best players ever to participate in the FIFA World Cup™.

Sandor Kocsis - Hungary

Goals: 11 World Cups: One - 1954 Matches played: Five

Germany FR v Hungary | 1954 FIFA World Cup Switzerland™ | Classic MatchesWatch highlights of some of the best matches ever played in the FIFA World Cup™.

Gabriel Batistuta - Argentina

Goals: 10 World Cups: Three - 1994 (four goals), 1998 (five goals), 2002 (one goal) Matches played: 12

Gabriel Batistuta | Silver Shoe Award | 1998 FIFA World Cup France™The adidas Golden Boot was first awarded to the top goalscorer of the tournament in 1982 under the name Golden Shoe. It was renamed Golden Boot in 2010. Runners-up are awarded the adidas Silver Boot and adidas Bronze Boot awards respectively

Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal

Goals: 10 World Cups: Six - 2006 (one goal), 2010 (one goal), 2014 (one goal), 2018 (four goals), 2022 (one goal), 2026 (two goals to date) Matches played: 24

Cristiano Ronaldo | All FIFA World Cup goalsWatch back every goal of the only player to score at six FIFA World Cups.

Teofilo Cubillas - Peru

Goals: 10 World Cups: Three - 1970 (five goals), 1978 (five goals), 1982 (no goals) Matches played: 13

Teófilo Cubillas | Silver Boot Award | 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina™The adidas Golden Boot was first awarded to the top goalscorer of the tournament in 1982 under the name Golden Shoe. It was renamed Golden Boot in 2010. Runners-up are awarded the adidas Silver Boot and adidas Bronze Boot awards respectively.

Harry Kane

Goals: 10 World Cups: Three – 2018 (six goals), 2022 (two goals), 2026 (two goals to date) Matches played: 13

Harry Kane | Golden Boot Award | 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™The adidas Golden Boot was first awarded to the top goalscorer of the tournament in 1982 under the name Golden Shoe. It was renamed Golden Boot in 2010. Runners-up are awarded the adidas Silver Boot and adidas Bronze Boot awards respectively.

Grzegorz Lato - Poland

Goals: 10 World Cups: Three - 1974 (seven goals), 1978 (two goals), 1982 (one goal) Matches played: 20

Grzegorz Lato | Top Goalscorer | 1974 FIFA World Cup Germany™The adidas Golden Boot was first awarded to the top goalscorer of the tournament in 1982 under the name Golden Shoe. It was renamed Golden Boot in 2010. Runners-up are awarded the adidas Silver Boot and adidas Bronze Boot awards respectively.

Gary Lineker - England

Goals: 10 World Cups: Two - 1986 (six goals), 1990 (four goals) Matches played: 12

Gary Lineker | Golden Shoe Award | 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™The adidas Golden Boot was first awarded to the top goalscorer of the tournament in 1982 under the name Golden Shoe. It was renamed Golden Boot in 2010. Runners-up are awarded the adidas Silver Boot and adidas Bronze Boot awards respectively.

Thomas Muller - Germany

Goals: 10 World Cups: Four - 2010 (five goals), 2014 (five goals), 2018 (no goals), 2022 (no goals) Matches played: 19

Thomas Muller | All FIFA World Cup goals with GermanyWatch all goals ever scored by Thomas Muller in FIFA World Cup history.

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

Roberto Baggio | Silver Ball Award | 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™The adidas Golden Ball is presented to the best player at each FIFA World Cup finals. Those who finish as runners-up in the vote receive the adidas Silver Ball and Bronze Ball awards as the second and third most outstanding players in the tournament respectively.

Eusebio - Portugal

Goals: 9 World Cups: One - 1966 Matches played: Six

Eusébio | Top goalscorer | 1966 FIFA World Cup England™The adidas Golden Boot was first awarded to the top goalscorer of the tournament in 1982 under the name Golden Shoe. It was renamed Golden Boot in 2010. Runners-up are awarded the adidas Silver Boot and adidas Bronze Boot awards respectively.

Jairzinho - Brazil

Goals: 9 World Cups: Three - 1966 (no goals), 1970 (seven goals), 1974 (two goals) Matches played: 16

Jairzinho | Silver Boot Award | 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™The adidas Golden Boot was first awarded to the top goalscorer of the tournament in 1982 under the name Golden Shoe. It was renamed Golden Boot in 2010. Runners-up are awarded the adidas Silver Boot and adidas Bronze Boot awards respectively.

Paolo Rossi - Italy

Goals: 9 World Cups: Two - 1978 (three goals), 1982 (six goals) Matches played: 14