Prior to the start of the World Cup 2026a total of 2,720 goals had been scored by more than 1,400 players in the 22 editions of the World Cups held until then, since the first was scored by the French footballer Lucien Laurent in the World Cup in Uruguay, in 1930more than nine decades ago.
It is worth mentioning that the goal record of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) excludes those noted in the penalty shoot-outs that serve as a tiebreaker in the direct elimination rounds, so the top scorers of the World Cups scored their goals during regulation time either in extra time.
Given this situation, of the fifteen top scorers of the World Cupsonly three are still active and competing in the 2026 World Cup: the Argentine Lionel Messi38 years old; the french Kylian Mbappé27; and english Harry Kane32, who will fight every match for the Golden Boot of the championship in North America.
Faced with this scenario, the other twelve members of the list are footballers retired who, thanks to their performances in the World Cups, became legends of the tournament. Among them are the German Miroslav Klose, the Brazilian Ronaldo Nazário, the Frenchman Just Fontaine and the Hungarian Sándor Kocsis, among others. myths of this sport.
World Cup scorers
Seven stars with 10 goals
After the double he scored against Croatia On Wednesday, June 17, English Harry Kane entered the select list of footballers who have scored 10 goals in the World Cups, along with the Peruvian Teófilo Cubillas, the Argentinean Gabriel Batistuta, the Polish Grzegorz Lato, the English Gary Lineker and the germans Helmut Rahn and Thomas Müller.
Two myths with 11 goals
With just one more goal than the aforementioned figures are the German Jürgen Klinsmann and the hungarian Sándor Kocsis. The latter stands out even more for having scored his 11 goals in a single edition of the World Cup, the one held in Switzerland. 1954. However, the one born in Germany did manage to become champion in Italy 1990.
A legend with 12 goals and another with 13
With 12 notes is the only footballer who has won three World Cups, the Brazilian Pelé, who distributed his goals in the editions of 1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970. However, he never managed to surpass Just Fontaineconsidered one of the best footballers in the history of French football, since he scored 13 goals in the edition of 1958.
Tie of world champions with 14 goals
Five decades after having scored 14 goals between the 1970 and 1974 editions, in which he became world champion, the German’s record Gerd Müller was equaled by the French Kylian Mbappéwho, after winning the World Cup in 2018, has scored goals in the two World Cup editions he has played since then.
Today is important to begin for a victor. The road will be long but our sommes prêts. 🇫🇷🙏🏽💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/JhPbpUQopN
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 16, 2026
A two-time world champion with 15 goals
The Brazilian is alone, with 15 goals. Ronaldo Nazáriowho, although he was world champion without playing any match in the edition of 1994took control of his destiny and in the following three World Cups he became one of the most successful forwards. lethal of the tournament, until winning his second world title in the 2002.
Two champions with a record of 16 goals
By winning the 2014 World Cup, the German Miroslav Klose contributed to one of the most painful moments in the Argentine’s career Lionel Messi. Despite this, the man from Rosario returned to play in a World Cup final and, after conquering his star in the 2022equaled the Teuton with 16 goals in the edition of 2026thanks to the hat trick he scored in his debut.
The owner of the game 🔟👑🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/yfdcOZhdiB
— 🇦🇷 Argentina National Team ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) June 17, 2026