Lionel Messi now sits alone atop the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring charts with 18 goals, having surpassed Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 during the ongoing 2026 tournament. Kylian Mbappé trails with 14 World Cup goals, keeping the generational rivalry alive on football’s biggest stage.
The record and the race
Messi clinched the all-time lead with a goal against Austria during the 2026 group stage, pushing past Klose’s mark that had stood since 2014. A hat-trick against Algeria during the same tournament phase padded his total to 18.
His 2026 haul of 5 goals adds to a career World Cup trajectory that looks almost fictional: 1 goal in 2006, 4 in 2014, 1 in 2018, and a career-high 7 during the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Six World Cups. Eighteen goals.
Mbappé has added to his tally during the 2026 edition, bringing his career total to 14 World Cup goals.
