With the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup approaching, marked by the clash between Mexico and South Africa, football fans’ attention turns to the big names who made history on the pitch. While new talents seek to leave their marks, it is an opportune moment to remember the athletes who, with their unparalleled eye for goal, became the main scorers in the World Cup history.
Historical records for goals in World Cups
The passion for football is driven by iconic moments, and few are as exciting as the ball swinging through the net. The search for new artillery records is one of the highlights of each edition of the World Cup. Every four years, the planet stops to watch the stars who seek to immortalize their names in the history of the sport, surpassing marks established by legends of the past.
The great scorers who defined eras in the World Cup
Below, check out the updated list of the top ten scorers of all time in the World Cup, with their respective goal scores, until the opening of the 2026 edition:
- 1. Miroslav Klose (Germany): The German striker leads the way with an impressive 16 goals, scored in four editions (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014), standing out for his consistency and opportunism.
- 2. Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil): The Brazilian “Phenomenon” found the net 15 times in three appearances (1998, 2002 and 2006), being a key player in winning the fifth championship in 2002.
- 3. Gerd Müller (West Germany): The legendary German goalscorer scored 14 goals in just two World Cups (1970 and 1974), with an astonishing goals per game average.
- 4. Just Fontaine (France): Holder of a unique feat, he scored 13 goals in a single edition, in 1958, setting a record that has yet to be achieved.
- 5. Lionel Messi (Argentina): The Argentine captain reached 13 goals in five tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022), crowning his career with the title in 2022.
- 6. Pelé (Brazil): The “King of Football” scored 12 goals in four World Cups (1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970), winning three world titles.
- 7. Kylian Mbappé (France): With 12 goals in just two World Cups (2018 and 2022), the young Frenchman is already among the greatest and has the potential to break future records.
- 8. Sándor Kocsis (Hungary): The Hungarian striker scored 11 goals in a single World Cup, in 1954, demonstrating an impressive scoring ability.
- 9. Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany): The German scored 11 goals in three editions of the World Cup (1990, 1994 and 1998), being one of the most consistent strikers of his generation.
- 10. Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina): “Batigol” scored 10 goals in three World Cups (1994, 1998 and 2002), known for the power and precision of his shots.
The expectation for new names in the 2026 edition
While the ball is rolling in the United States, Mexico and Canada, the 2026 World Cup opens up space for new talents to emerge and, who knows, challenge these historic brands. The eyes of the world will be watching to see which athletes will join the select group of top scorers or, who knows, one day surpass the numbers of legends like Klose and Ronaldo.