The race to be the World Cup’s all-time top scorer exploded into life on 16 June. In the space of a few hours, Lionel Messi scored a hat trick against Algeria to draw level with Miroslav Klose at the summit, Kylian Mbappé struck twice against Senegal to join Gerd Müller, and Erling Haaland announced himself with a debut brace. For the first time in years the record for the most goals in World Cup history is genuinely up for grabs — and the Golden Boot odds have moved with it.
Most World Cup goals: the all-time top scorers
Klose set the benchmark of 16 across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014. Two decades on, Messi has matched it — and he is still playing. Here is the all-time men’s World Cup top-scorer list as it stands.
| Player | Country | WC goals | Tournaments | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 | 2002–2014 | Retired |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 16 | 2006–2026 | Active |
| Ronaldo | Brazil | 15 | 1998–2006 | Retired |
| Gerd Müller | West Germany | 14 | 1970–1974 | Retired |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 14 | 2018–2026 | Active |
| Just Fontaine | France | 13 | 1958 | Retired |
| Pelé | Brazil | 12 | 1958–1970 | Retired |
The day of the stars, by the numbers
All three of the tournament’s headline forwards scored on the same day. Messi’s treble was the biggest statement, lifting him 80 minutes from outright history; Mbappé’s double included a 30-yard stunner; and Haaland marked his first World Cup appearance with two goals.
| Player | Goals on 16 June | All-time WC goals now |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 3 | 16 |
| Kylian Mbappé | 2 | 14 |
| Erling Haaland | 2 | 2 |
The Golden Boot race: latest odds
The hat trick did not just move Messi level with Klose; it made him the new favourite to finish as the tournament’s leading scorer. Mbappé is just behind, with Haaland the value pick after his brace. The latest World Cup 2026 Golden Boot odds:
| Player | Country | Golden Boot odds |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 3.25 |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 3.50 |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 6.00 |
| Harry Kane | England | 8.00 |
| Kai Havertz | Germany | 11.00 |
| Lamine Yamal | Spain | 17.00 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 19.00 |
Can anyone catch Klose?
Messi needs just one more goal to stand alone as the greatest scorer in World Cup history, and Argentina have at least two group games to come. Mbappé, at 27, is the longer-term threat: three goals would take him past both Messi and the record. Read Messi’s World Cup records and Mbappé’s World Cup goals in full — with Ronaldo, stuck on eight World Cup goals since 2006, now a bystander. Follow every goal on our World Cup 2026 stats page and the World Cup 2026 hub.
Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi share the record with 16 goals each. Messi drew level with a hat trick against Algeria on 16 June 2026 and, as the only active player of the two, can break the record outright.
Sixteen — level with Klose at the top of the all-time list after his hat trick against Algeria at the 2026 World Cup.
Yes. Mbappé has 14 World Cup goals at 27 and needs three more to pass Klose and Messi on 16. He is among the favourites for the 2026 Golden Boot.
Lionel Messi is the bookmakers’ favourite at around 3.25, just ahead of Kylian Mbappé (3.50) and Erling Haaland (6.00).
Odds via bet365, correct at the time of publication and subject to change. 19+. Please gamble responsibly.