Lionel Messi has extended his record as the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history by netting his 21st goal during Argentina’s Round of 16 match against Egypt. This milestone came just days after the 39-year-old captain celebrated his birthday, underscoring his enduring impact on the global stage. His goal not only sealed Argentina’s impressive comeback but also marked his eighth strike in the ongoing 2026 tournament.
Rising Stars and Historic Records
While Messi now stands alone at the summit with 21 World Cup goals, the French forward Kylian Mbappé is rapidly closing the gap. Following his goal in the quarterfinals against Morocco, the 27-year-old surged past Germany’s Miroslav Klose to claim second place on the all-time World Cup scoring list with 20 goals.
Klose, who set the previous record at 16 goals accumulated over 24 appearances, had surpassed Brazil’s legendary Ronaldo Nazário, who scored 15 goals. These historic figures now find themselves trailing the unprecedented scoring pace set by Messi and Mbappé as the 2026 tournament intensifies.
Currently, the top World Cup scorers are:
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 21 goals
- Kylian Mbappé (France) – 20 goals
- Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 16 goals
- Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil) – 15 goals
- Gerd Müller (Germany) – 14 goals
- Harry Kane (England) – 14 goals
- Just Fontaine (France) – 13 goals