Leo Messi has scored the most goals in World Cup history: List of all-time leading goal-scorers

Lionel Messi is now out on his own as the record scorer in World Cup history, taking his historic tally to 21 goals with a clinical strike against Egypt.

Just days after celebrating his 39th birthday, the Argentina captain led his country to an impressive comeback in the Round of 16 against Egypt. The strike marks his eighth goal of the 2026 tournament.

Who has scored the most World Cup goals?

Lionel Messi has officially moved to the top of the all-time standings with 21 World Cup goals, but Kylian Mbappé is breathing down his neck at an astonishing pace. With his goal against Morocco in the quarterfinals, the 27-year-old French captain climbed to 20 World Cup goals, overtaking Miroslav Klose to claim sole possession of second place on the all-time charts.

Klose, who finalized his previous record of 16 goals across 24 appearances during Germany’s 2014 triumph, had originally claimed the crown from Brazil’s Ronaldo (15 goals). Now, both legends find themselves trailing the blistering modern pace of Messi and Mbappé as the 2026 knockout rounds intensify.

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