Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, both World Cup winners, are set to fight for one of football’s most prestigious records at the 2026 World Cup, the all-time top scorer title. The article, published by Sport 5 on June 16, 2026 at 16:24, tracks the tournament’s scoring table and notes that several records are likely to fall in the event.
The current record holder is Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 World Cup goals for Germany and has led the all-time list since 2014. Messi is tied for fourth place with Just Fontaine on 13 goals, two behind Ronaldo Nazário and one behind Gerd Müller. Mbappé is sixth alongside Pelé with 12 goals.
Mbappé has an advantage because this is his third World Cup appearance, and at 28 he is likely to have more chances to add to his total. Messi, 39, is appearing in his sixth World Cup, is the all-time leader in tournament appearances, and is likely playing his final World Cup. The piece says it is rare for two players in the same tournament to be chasing the all-time scoring crown at the same time.
Since 1958, when Fontaine topped the table, only three players have taken over as World Cup scoring leader, Müller in 1974, Ronaldo in 2006, and Klose in 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are the active players closest to Messi and Mbappé, with eight goals each, and would need at least two more goals to break into the top 10 to 15.
