France captain and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has etched his name into football history by becoming the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer after ending the 2026 tournament with 22 goals.
FIFA’s updated all-time World Cup scoring rankings, published following Sunday’s final in the United States, show Mbappé overtaking Argentina legend Lionel Messi, who concluded his World Cup career with 21 goals.
The French star reached the landmark in only 22 World Cup appearances, while Messi amassed his 21-goal tally across 34 matches over six editions of the competition.
Former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who had held the outright record for more than a decade with 16 goals, now sits third on the all-time list.
Brazil great Ronaldo occupies fourth place after scoring 15 goals in 19 World Cup matches.
Germany legend Gerd Müller and England captain Harry Kane share fifth position with 14 goals each. Müller achieved the feat in just 13 appearances, while Kane reached the same tally in 18 matches.
France’s Just Fontaine remains one of the tournament’s most extraordinary goalscorers, having netted 13 times in only six matches during the 1958 World Cup.
Brazil icon Pelé ranks eighth with 12 goals from 14 World Cup appearances.
Germany’s Jürgen Klinsmann, Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo are level on 11 goals.
Klinsmann scored his goals in 17 matches, Kocsis recorded his tally in just five appearances, while Cristiano Ronaldo finished his World Cup career with 11 goals in 27 matches.
FIFA World Cup all-time leading goalscorers
Kylian Mbappé (France) – 22 goals in 22 matches
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 21 goals in 34 matches
Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 16 goals in 24 matches
Ronaldo (Brazil) – 15 goals in 19 matches
Gerd Müller (Germany) – 14 goals in 13 matches
Harry Kane (England) – 14 goals in 18 matches
Just Fontaine (France) – 13 goals in six matches
Pelé (Brazil) – 12 goals in 14 matches
Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany) – 11 goals in 17 matches
Sándor Kocsis (Hungary) – 11 goals in five matches
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 11 goals in 27 matches.
