Lionel Messi has equaled the all-time FIFA World Cup goalscoring record by scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria at the opening of the 2026 tournament. This remarkable performance brought Messi’s World Cup goal tally to 16, tying the record long held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
With the tournament still unfolding, Messi is now poised to surpass Klose and claim the top spot in World Cup history. However, French star Kylian Mbappé poses a significant challenge, having scored twice in France’s opening victory against Senegal, boosting his own World Cup goal count to 14.
Mbappé’s achievement is particularly notable as he has reached this milestone in just 15 World Cup matches, underscoring his impressive scoring efficiency. In contrast, Messi has needed 27 matches to match Klose’s record. As the competition continues, Mbappé remains well-positioned to challenge for the top spot.
The all-time World Cup goalscoring leaderboard features other football icons, including Brazil’s Ronaldo with 15 goals, Germany’s Gerd Müller with 14, France’s Just Fontaine with 13, and Brazil’s Pelé with 12. Additionally, Argentina’s Gabriel Batistuta and England’s Harry Kane each have 10 goals.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup progresses, the contest for the title of the highest goalscorer is expected to be a major narrative thread. Messi’s pursuit of history and Mbappé’s potential to inaugurate a new era at the summit of World Cup scoring promise to captivate fans worldwide.