World Cup 2026 is the 23rd edition of the global festival of football.
It is the sport’s ultimate prize. A stage where dreams are realised, legacies are forged, and names are branded into immortality.
Few are remembered with greater regard than the goalscorers, who are so often the difference between glory and heartbreak.
Read more: Best football players in the world | Best football players of all time
Since the tournament’s inception in 1930, 2,720 goals have been scored by more than 1,300 players – and plenty more will be added to both those tallies before the summer is up.
The list of top World Cup goalscorers is a mix of legends, familiar faces and forgotten greats, but who stands above the rest in the all-time rankings?
Radio Times brings you the round-up of the most successful goalscorers in World Cup history.
Who has scored the most World Cup goals?
Germany marksman Miroslav Klose stands alone at the top of the all-time World Cup goalscorers list but his record is under threat this summer.
Argentina star Lionel Messi needs four goals to move above the German at what is surely his final major tournament, while France forward Kylian Mbappe is four back from the top of the list.
- Miroslav Klose (Germany) 16 goals in 24 matches at four World Cups
- Ronaldo (Brazil) 15 goals from 19 matches at four World Cups
- Gerd Müller (West Germany) 14 goals from 13 matches at two World Cups
- Just Fontaine (France) 13 goals from six matches at one World Cup
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) 13 goals from 26 matches at five World Cups
- Kylian Mbappe (France) 12 goals from 14 matches at two World Cups
- Pelé (Brazil) 12 goals from 14 matches at four World Cups
- Jürgen Klinsmann (West Germany/Germany) 11 goals from 17 matches at three World Cups
- Sándor Kocsis (Hungary) 11 goals from five matches at one World Cup
- Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) 10 goals from 12 matches at three World Cups
- Gary Lineker (England) 10 goals from 12 matches at two World Cups
- Teófilo Cubillas (Peru) 10 goals from 13 matches at two World Cups
- Thomas Müller (Germany) 10 goals from 16 matches at two World Cups
- Grzegorz Lato (Poland) 10 goals from 20 matches at three World Cups
Who has scored the most goals at a single World Cup?
He’s not exactly a household name but France striker Just Fontaine holds the record for the most goals scored at a single World Cup.
That record is going to be tough to beat this summer, even after the tournament has been expanded to 48 nations and 104 total matches.
- Just Fontaine (France) 13 Goals at World Cup 1958
- Sándor Kocsis (Hungary) 11 Goals at World Cup 1954
- Gerd Müller (West Germany) 10 Goals at World Cup 1970
- Ademir (Brazil) 9 Goals at World Cup 1950
- Eusébio (Portugal) 9 Goals at World Cup 1966
- Guillermo Stábile (Argentina) 8 Goals at World Cup 1930
- Ronaldo (Brazil) 8 Goals at World Cup 2002
- Kylian Mbappé (France) 8 Goals at World Cup 2022
- Leônidas (Brazil) 7 Goals at World Cup 1938
- Jairzinho (Brazil) 7 Goals at World Cup 1970
- Grzegorz Lato (Poland) 7 Goals at World Cup 1974
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Authors
Ned is a sports writer at RadioTimes.com. He has covered a host of sports from EFL football, international cricket and golf all the way through to bike polo and triathlon.
