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Who has most goals in World Cup history? Kylian Mbappé passes Lionel Messi with 2 goals in third-place game
Yahoo Sports • • general
Key Points:
- Lionel Messi became the second-highest all-time World Cup goal scorer during the 2026 tournament, reaching 21 goals with key strikes against Austria, Jordan, and Cape Verde.
- Kylian Mbappé surpassed Messi by scoring twice in the third-place game against England, becoming the all-time leading World Cup scorer with 22 goals at age 27.
- Other notable top scorers include Miroslav Klose (16 goals), Ronaldo of Brazil (15 goals), and Harry Kane and Gerd Müller tied with 14 goals each.
- Legendary players such as Pelé (12 goals) and Just Fontaine (13 goals in a single World Cup) also remain prominent in World Cup scoring history.
- Cristiano Ronaldo, Jürgen Klinsmann, and Sándor Kocsis share the ninth spot with 11 World Cup goals each, highlighting the enduring impact of past and present football icons.
