Most World Cup goals ever: Mbappé tops the all-time list after passing Klose

Kylian Mbappé finished the 2026 World Cup as the leading goalscorer in tournament history. His Golden Boot-winning campaign took him to 22 World Cup goals across three tournaments, edging out Lionel Messi, who ended his international career on 21 after Argentina’s runners-up finish, and Miroslav Klose, whose 16-goal record from 2002–2014 had stood since. Spain won the tournament itself, beating Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium on 19 July.

Most World Cup goals: the all-time top scorers

Klose set the previous benchmark of 16 across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014. Mbappé and Messi both passed it during the 2026 World Cup, with Mbappé’s Golden Boot run carrying him clear at the top. Here is the updated all-time men’s World Cup top-scorer list.

How the record changed hands

Messi drew level with Klose on 16 goals with a hat trick against Algeria on 16 June, then added five more across the rest of the tournament to take Argentina all the way to the final. Mbappé, level with Gerd Müller on 14 after his own double in the group stage, kept scoring through the knockout rounds and finished with the Golden Boot on 10 goals for the tournament, enough to move two clear of Messi and stand alone on top of the all-time list.

The day the race caught fire

All three of the tournament’s headline forwards had scored on the same day back in the group stage. Messi’s treble against Algeria was the biggest statement at the time, drawing him level with Klose; Mbappé’s double against Senegal included a 30-yard stunner; and Erling Haaland marked his first World Cup appearance with two goals of his own.

The final Golden Boot standings

Mbappé’s tournament-topping form won him the Golden Boot outright, with Messi as runner-up. Both also topped the assist charts, with four apiece. Here is how the leading scorers finished:

Spain lift the trophy

The individual scoring race played out against the backdrop of Spain’s 1–0 extra-time win over Argentina in the final at MetLife Stadium on 19 July. Ferran Torres settled a goalless contest in the 106th minute for Spain’s second world title, following 2010, in the first World Cup final since USA 1994 to remain scoreless after 90 minutes. Read Messi’s World Cup record in full and how Mbappé became the all-time top scorer. Relive the tournament on our World Cup 2026 stats page and the World Cup 2026 hub.