Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are rewriting FIFA World Cup history, climbing to the top of the all-time scoring leaderboard. With their recent performances, the Argentine and the Frenchman have surpassed Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record and sparked a debate among football fans (or soccer fans if they are from the United States): Who will end up as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history? In this article, we’ll explain how many goals each player has scored, what the all-time standings look like, and why these two superstars have become the new legends of the World Cup.
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi and Egypt's defender #05 Ramy Rabia fight for the ball during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 7, 2026. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
TL;DR
With his goal against Egypt on Round of 16, Lionel Messi occupies the No. 1 spot as the highest goalscorer in Men’s World Cup history with 21 goals, while Kylian Mbappé sits alone in second place right behind him with 19 goals awaiting the match against Morocco. Both superstars have shattered the previous all-time record of 16 goals held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Their respective positions on the all-time list continue to evolve during the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Messi have already scored 8 and Mbappé 7 goals in the tournament.
Lionel Messi’s Record Path
Competing in his record-extending sixth World Cup, Lionel Messi hit the ground running in the 2026 edition. He scored a hat trick in Argentina’s group-stage opener against Algeria to equal Miroslav Klose. He then took the sole all-time lead by netting twice against Austria, hit another free-kick goal against Jordan, and added his 20th career goal during the Round of 32 victory over Cape Verde. In the Round of 16 against Egypt, Messi scored and put himself momentarily at the top of the ranking.
Kylian Mbappé’s Shorter, Explosive Path
Kylian Mbappé has reached his astonishing number of 19 goals in just three World Cup tournaments (2018, 2022, 2026). Averaging a clean 1.00 goal-per-game ratio, he scored four goals in 2018, eight in 2022, and has added seven more so far in 2026. His 2026 goals include braces against Senegal and Iraq, two more against Sweden in the Round of 32, and a decisive penalty kick in France’s 1-0 Round of 16 victory against Paraguay. He also holds the all-time record for the most World Cup knockout stage goals with 10.
Messi vs. Mbappé: Two Ways to Make History at the World Cup
Although the standings place Lionel Messi first and Kylian Mbappé close behind, the way each has built his World Cup legacy is different. Messi has built his record over the course of six World Cups, combining goals and assists and serving as the undisputed leader of the Argentine national team across several generations.
Mbappé, on the other hand, has burst onto the scene at a very young age, scoring many goals in just a few tournaments and proving decisive in finals and knockout matches. That combination of youth and effectiveness leads many fans to view each World Cup as a new chapter in the race for the record between the two.
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe reacts during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
All-Time Table: Here’s the World Cup All-Time Scoring Leaderboard
| Place | Plater | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 19 |
| 2 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 18 |
| 3 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 |
| 4 | Ronaldo Nazário | Brazil | 15 |
| 5 | Gerd Müller | Germany | 14 |
| 6 | Just Fontaine | France | 13 |
| 7 | Pelé | Brazil | 12 |
