Lionel Messi now holds the FIFA World Cup all-time goalscoring record with 18 goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose's long-standing 16 goals. Messi achieved this milestone during the 2026 World Cup, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, where he scored his 17th and 18th goals between June 17 and June 22.
The leaderboard features Klose in second place, while Brazil’s Ronaldo is third with 15 goals. French star Kylian Mbappé sits at 14, tied with German legend Gerd Müller.
Klose's record was built on sustained excellence over four tournaments, while Messi's journey includes winning the World Cup in 2022, solidifying his legacy. The newly expanded 48-team format of the 2026 World Cup presents unique challenges and opportunities, potentially enabling top players to enhance their scoring tallies against less competitive teams.
As Argentina defends their title, Messi's form is pivotal in their quest for another championship.