Argentina are one of the most successful teams in FIFA World Cup history. Learn more about the top all-time goalscorers for their squad with our handy recap.
With three World Cups to their name and iconic players like Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi among their ranks, Argentina’s national team is one of the most successful in the history of the World Cup. Heading into the 2026 World Cup, they’re the reigning champions, having beaten France in the 2022 finals in Qatar.
The team has claimed countless victories across almost a century of competition, but which players have scored the most goals for Argentina at the World Cup? We’ll count down the team’s most prolific scorers, as well as give a profile of what made each of these Argentine footballing legends so special.
Who has scored the most World Cup goals for Argentina?
The player who has scored the most goals for Argentina in World Cup history is Lionel Messi. Often regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history, he has netted 13 goals for his country since debuting at the competition in 2006.
Here’s a list of the most prolific Argentine goalscorers at the World Cup:
Rank | Player | World Cup goals | World Cup editions |
1 | Lionel Messi | 13 | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
2 | Gabriel Batistuta | 10 | 1994, 1998, 2002 |
-3 | Guillermo Stábile | 8 | 1930 |
-3 | Diego Maradona | 8 | 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 |
5 | Mario Kempes | 6 | 1974, 1978, 1982 |
6 | Gonzalo Higuaín | 5 | 2010, 2014, 2018 |
Argentina’s top scorers at the World Cup
Now that we’ve listed the top goalscorers for Argentina at the World Cup, let’s take a deeper dive into each player to discuss their impact on the team. Here’s a brief history of Argentina’s top goalscorers:
Lionel Messi
With 13 goals scored at the tournament, Lionel Messi is Argentina’s MVP when it comes to the World Cup. He debuted against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, earning one assist and one goal in his first-ever appearance at the event. Although he went goalless in South Africa in 2010, his 2014 campaign saw him score four goals, with Argentina finishing as runners-up behind Germany.
He scored once in 2018, but his 2022 tournament was legendary. Scoring a massive seven goals, Messi took the team to his first World Cup victory, cementing him as one of the best players of a generation.
Gabriel Batistuta
Before Messi burst onto the scene, Gabriel Batistuta was the man to beat when it came to scoring for Argentina at the World Cup. Regarded as one of the best strikers of all time, his World Cup debut came during Argentina’s disappointing 1994 campaign, although he secured four goals at the tournament, including a hat-trick against Greece.
Batistuta missed most of the qualification games for the 1998 World Cup due to disputes with head coach Daniel Passarella, but once the tournament began, he scored five. This included his second hat-trick at a World Cup, during a 5-0 win over Jamaica. His final goal at the tournament came against Nigeria in 2002, where Argentina failed to reach the Round of 16.
Guillermo Stábile
Although he only ever competed in one edition of the event, Guillermo Stábile’s performance at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 made him the first player ever to receive the title of top goalscorer at the tournament. Best known for his career at Huracán before the World Cup, all eight of his goals were scored in one tournament, putting him level with Argentine legend Diego Maradona.
Stábile made a statement in the group stage by scoring a hat-trick against Mexico, followed by two goals against Chile. After contributing two goals to a 6-1 victory over the USA in the semi-finals, he scored his eighth goal against Uruguay in the final, though his side eventually lost 4-2. This made his Argentina squad the first runners-up in World Cup history.
Diego Maradona
One of the most renowned players in Argentina’s history, Diego Maradona enjoyed plenty of success at the World Cup, although his career wasn’t without controversy. Maradona’s World Cup debut came in 1982, where he failed to meet high expectations, but scored twice in a 4-1 win against Hungary.
By far his best-remembered performance came in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. After scoring against Italy in the group stage, he scored two iconic goals in the quarter-final against England. The first was the infamous “Hand of God,” when the referee allowed a controversial handball goal by Maradona in the second half. Four minutes later, he stormed past four English players, finishing with a feint to score what many have dubbed the “Goal of the Century”.
Maradona would score twice again at the tournament, giving Argentina a 2-0 win over Belgium in the semi-finals, and eventually helping to secure the trophy in the final against Germany (although he didn’t score). After a goalless tournament in 1990, he netted his final goal for the international team in a 4-0 victory over Greece in 1994.
Mario Kempes
Although he failed to score in his six appearances at the 1974 World Cup, Mario Kempes’ 1978 tournament was historic; leading Argentina in goals and eventually earning the team its first championship. His first two goals came in a 2-0 win over Poland, while his third and fourth were scored in a dominant 6-0 showing over Peru.
Eventually, Kempes would score two of Argentina’s three goals in the final against the Netherlands to lift the trophy, cementing him as the team’s focal point for that year. Unfortunately, he failed to score in 1982, but his legacy as one of the country’s top goalscorers remains.
Gonzalo Higuaín
Although former Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuaín never played in a World Cup-winning squad, his record of five goals at the tournament remains among the best for any Argentine player. His World Cup career kicked off in 2010, scoring a hat-trick in a group-stage match against South Korea, and becoming the first player in eight years to bag three goals in a single match at the competition. He later scored a fourth goal in a Round of 16 game against Mexico, which helped him solidify his title as Argentina’s top goalscorer that year.
He would score again in the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals against Mexico, taking his total to five across two tournaments. Higuaín also came within touching distance of a sixth goal in the final against Germany, but his attempt was offside. The 2018 World Cup marked Higuaín’s final tournament as part of the national team, but he failed to score before Argentina were knocked out.
Will any Argentina players join the list at the 2026 World Cup?
Although it’ll be hard for any new players to rival Messi’s impressive goalscoring record, there are still plenty of Argentine players to keep an eye on at this year’s tournament.
The obvious choice is Atlético Madrid forward Julián Alvarez, who already has four World Cup goals to his name after an incredibly successful tournament in 2022. Just one goal in the 2026 World Cup would put him on par with Gonzalo Higuaín, and since he scored four goals in Argentina’s qualification matches, you can expect to see a strong performance in North America.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister also has the potential to steal the spotlight at the tournament. Bagging his first international goal in Qatar in 2022, he also assisted Ángel Di María in the final at the same World Cup, putting him in good standing to break out as one of Argentina’s next top stars.
Enzo Fernández will also be entering the competition with high expectations. The midfielder was named the best young player at the 2022 World Cup for his role in Argentina’s victory, which led to a record-breaking transfer from Benfica to Chelsea the following year. In 2024, he also recorded two assists in Argentina’s Copa América win.
Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez and Palmeiras striker José Manuel López are also expected to make an impact in the World Cup top goalscorer odds.
Can Argentina go all the way?
With the momentum of their historic 2022 win behind them and one of the most talented squads in the competition, there’s every chance that Argentina could become back-to-back champions by the end of the 2026 World Cup. You can view the latest World Cup tournament winner odds to see which teams are in contention to lift the trophy.
Want to place a wager on Argentina at the 2026 World Cup? Read our guide on how to bet on the World Cup for everything you need to know to back the team in the competition.
