Lionel Messi Becomes All-Time World Cup Top Scorer with 19 Goals

Lionel Messi has become the all-time leading goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose by scoring twice to reach 19 goals. This milestone was achieved during the 2026 World Cup, where Messi's Argentina continues to compete. French star Kylian Mbappe is currently second with 17 World Cup goals after scoring against Sweden, closing the gap to just two goals behind Messi. Mbappe has scored five goals in this tournament and, at 28 years old, is expected to participate in future World Cups, while 39-year-old Messi is likely playing in his final World Cup, marking his sixth appearance.

The all-time top scorers list now stands as follows: Messi (Argentina) with 19 goals, Mbappe (France) with 17, Klose (Germany) with 16, Ronaldo (Brazil) with 15, Gerd Muller (West Germany) with 14, Just Fontaine (France) with 13, and Pele (Brazil) with 12. Among active players, Harry Kane leads with 10 World Cup goals, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar with eight each.

Messi's current tally of six goals in the 2026 tournament has helped him overtake legends like Ronaldo, Muller, and Klose on the all-time scoring list. This World Cup is notable for featuring two players simultaneously contending for the all-time top scorer title, a rare occurrence since Just Fontaine led the chart in 1958. Historically, only three players have held the top scorer crown in nearly 70 years: Muller in 1974, Ronaldo in 2006, and Klose in 2014. The 2026 World Cup continues to break records and captivate fans worldwide.