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 19 goals with a clinical strike against Jordan.

Just days after celebrating his 39th birthday, the Argentina captain was rested from the starting XI with the top spot in the group already secured. However, he was introduced on the hour mark and quickly delivered yet another masterpiece—striking a brilliant low free-kick in the 80th minute to seal a 3-1 victory. The strike marks his sixth 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 19 World Cup goals, but Kylian Mbappé is breathing down his neck at an astonishing pace. With his clinical brace against Sweden in the Round of 32, the 27-year-old French captain climbed to 18 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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