Kylian Mbappé, a forward for Real Madrid and captain of France, finished the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the competition’s all-time top scorer, leaving his mark on football history.
According to Naija News, Mbappé tops the list with 22 goals in FIFA’s most recent all-time scoring rankings, which were issued after the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
With 21 goals, the legendary Lionel Messi of Argentina was surpassed by the French great.
Given the number of games needed to attain the milestone, Mbappé’s accomplishment is even more impressive.
The 27-year-old averaged one goal per game while scoring 22 goals in just 22 World Cup appearances.
In contrast, Messi scored 21 goals in 34 games over the course of six tournament editions.
Miroslav Klose, a former striker for Germany, has fallen to third place on the all-time list after holding the World Cup scoring record with 16 goals for more than ten years.
With 15 goals in 19 World Cup games, Brazilian icon Ronaldo is ranked fourth.
With 14 goals apiece, England captain Harry Kane and Germany legend Gerd Müller are tied for seventh place.
Kane needed to make 18 appearances to accomplish the same total, whereas Müller did so in just 13 games.
After scoring 13 goals in just six games during the 1958 World Cup, France’s Just Fontaine still holds one of the most remarkable records in the competition’s history.
With 12 goals from 14 games, Brazilian legend Pelé is ranked seventh on the list.
Portugal’s captain Cristiano Ronaldo, Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann, and Hungary’s great Sávor Kocsis are all tied with eleven goals.
Kocsis only managed to score in five games, compared to Klinsmann’s 17 games. With 11 goals in 27 games, Cristiano Ronaldo finished his World Cup career.
The all-time goalscoring standings after the 2026 FIFA World Cup are as follows:
France’s Kylian Mbappé has 22 goals in 22 games.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi has scored 21 goals in 34 games.
Germany’s Miroslav Klose scored 16 goals in 24 games.
Brazil’s Ronaldo has 15 goals in 19 games.
Germany’s Gerd Müller scored 14 goals in 13 games.
England’s Harry Kane has 14 goals in 18 games.
France’s Just Fontaine scored 13 goals in six games.
Pelé (Brazil): 12 goals in 14 games
Germany’s Jürgen Klinsmann has 11 goals in 17 games.
Hungary’s Sávor Kocsis scored 11 goals in five games.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 11 goals in 27 games.
