Lionel Messi kicked off his 2026 World Cup journey by netting a hat-trick in a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria.
This impressive performance brought his total World Cup goals to 16, equaling the record set by Miroslav Klose. Many anticipate that the Inter Miami star will surpass this record during the tournament, but he faces fierce competition from Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé made a notable impact in France’s opening match against Senegal, scoring twice and raising his World Cup tally to 14 goals since his debut eight years ago.
Top World Cup Scorers
The following list ranks the top 20 all-time World Cup goalscorers, based on data from Transfermarkt. In cases where players have the same number of goals, the player with fewer appearances takes precedence. England supporters are hopeful that Harry Kane will quickly add to his current total of eight goals.
