Who has scored the most World Cup goals?

Find out who the top goalscorers are in World Cup History. Learn who’s scored the most in a single tournament, and who might soon join them on the list!

Having hosted so many top nations with many elite footballers, there have been numerous players with impressive goal records at the World Cup.

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, it’s interesting to look back on the greatest goalscorers the tournament has ever seen, with the list containing some of the biggest and most talented players.

Below, we’ll run you through who has the most World Cup goals, which players might soon be joining them, and players that have scored the most goals in a single campaign.

The top 10 all-time World Cup goalscorers

The table below highlights the players who’ve been the most prolific throughout the history of the tournament, with some having unbelievable goal-to-game ratios. Have a read of the players with the most goals in World Cup history:

Miroslav Klose, 16 goals

Playing for the German national team, Miroslav Klose took the all-time record off Ronaldo during the 2014 Brazilian World Cup when beating Brazil 7-1. Being an archetypal poacher with great awareness of his positioning, Klose was able to consistently find the net across four consecutive tournaments, even winning it in 2014 too.

Ronaldo, 15 goals

Renowned for his natural goalscoring prowess and electrifying pace, Ronaldo burst onto the World Cup scene in 1998, scoring four goals. He was also a crucial part of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup win after returning from injury mid-tournament. Considering he went on to win the Golden Boot the same year, it’s one of the best comeback stories in footballing history.

Gerd Müller, 14 goals

Despite only competing in two World Cups, Gerd Müller still achieved an impressive goal tally for West Germany. With 10 goals scored in the 1970 tournament, nobody has scored more than him in one campaign since. Müller also scored back-to-back hat-tricks against Bulgaria and Peru in 1970, with Sándor Kocsis being the only other player to do so in the World Cup.

Just Fontaine, 13 goals

As the record holder for the most goals in a single World Cup campaign, Frenchman Just Fontaine is a standout player to have featured at the tournament. His goal record speaks for itself, having reached an impressive 13 goals in just six matches, with all being scored in the 1958 Swedish World Cup.

Lionel Messi, 13 goals

With Lionel Messi’s seven goals at the Qatar World Cup in 2022, he was able to match Fontaine’s tally of 13 goals. Though some may say he’s underwhelmed in previous tournaments, he helped take Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, scoring twice in the 3-3 final against France. He then converted his penalty in the shootout where they won 4-2 to win the trophy.

Kylian Mbappe, 12 goals

After scoring in France’s 4-1 win over Croatia in 2018, Kylian Mbappe became the second teenager to ever score in a World Cup final, following in the footsteps of Pele. Despite only competing in two World Cups so far, his goal tally is impressive, and his eight goals in 2022 helped take France to the final where they only lost narrowly on penalties.

Pele, 12 goals

Playing in four separate World Cups, Pele demonstrated a remarkable longevity in the game. Though he never won a Golden Boot, he managed to receive the Best Player award in the 1970 tournament, tallying four goals and six assists along the way to his and Brazil’s third World Cup title. Scoring against Sweden in the 1958 final at 17 years old also meant he became the youngest goalscorer in a World Cup final.

Jurgen Klinsmann, 11 goals

Impressively scoring on his debut for West Germany against Yugoslavia, Klinsmann made an instant impact to his national team. His best campaign came in 1994 in the USA, where he scored five goals in five games for Germany, helping the team to reach the quarterfinals. He played his last World Cup tournament in 1998 aged 34, where he scored three goals.

Sándor Kocsis, 11 goals

Though he only played in one World Cup campaign for Hungary, Sándor Kocsis managed to score an impressive 11 goals in five games. Alongside Gerd Müller, he holds the record for the shortest period between two hat-tricks at a World Cup, with only four days separating them. He scored in every game in the 1954 tournament except for when Hungary lost 3-2 to Germany in the final known as ‘The Miracle of Bern’.

Gabriel Batistuta, 10 goals

A special figure in Argentinian football, Gabriel Batistuta impressed audiences across all three World Cups he appeared in. Remembered for being a clinical finisher, with powerful shooting and aerial dominance, Batistuta was an all-round threat to any defence he faced. His most iconic moment came against Greece in the 1994 World Cup, where he scored a brilliant hat-trick.

Teófilo Cubillas, 10 goals

Across three World Cups, Teófilo Cubillas was able to shine, helping to cement himself as a Peruvian football legend. Though he was a midfielder, he had a unique scoring ability, helping to take Peru to the quarterfinals in 1970, and having another impactful tournament again in 1978. Memorably, he scored two extraordinary goals against Scotland in 1978, marking an unforgettable performance.

Gary Lineker, 10 goals

As one of England’s best ever players, Gary Lineker was a standout performer in both World Cups he played in. Winning the Golden Boot in 1986 after notching six goals, he was the first of two English players to win the award. He was always a threat in the penalty box, having a brilliant ability to find space and capitalise on defensive mistakes from the opposition.

Thomas Müller, 10 goals

A foundation of the German national team for many years, Thomas Müller was a key player across multiple tournaments. His first World Cup in 2010 saw him get five goals and win the Golden Boot, with his footballing intelligence making him really stand out. Müller was incredibly influential and played a large role in Germany’s 2014 World Cup win.

Grzegorz Lato, 10 goals

Polish legend Grzegorz Lato played in three World Cup tournaments and captivated all his fans. Though playing as a winger, he had strikers’ instincts that allowed him to shine in front of goal, helping him on his way to the Golden Boot in 1974 after he netted seven goals. This helped Poland to finish in third place after he scored the winner against Brazil in the playoff match.

Helmut Rahn, 10 goals

Helmut Rahn was a prominent forward for West Germany, remembered for the large role he played in the World Cups during the 1950s. He was an incredibly fast player with a powerful strike, making him a formidable opponent. Without a doubt, his best moment was the winning goal he scored against Hungary in the 1954 World Cup final, helping West Germany to their first ever World Cup victory.

Who has scored the most goals in a single World Cup?

Now that we’ve covered the top scorers in the tournament’s history, let’s see which players have scored the most goals in a single World Cup tournament. Though some players may be prolific goalscorers across multiple tournaments, do they make it onto this list too? 

Will anyone enter the top 10 World Cup goalscorers this year?

With the potential for multiple elite finishers to attend the 2026 tournament, there could be a few players that break into the all-time top ten World Cup goalscorers very soon. But who are they, and how likely are they to achieve this feat?

Harry Kane

Currently sat on eight goals, the Englishman is two away from the top ten. As he’s fit and firing for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, we’ll likely see Harry Kane at the World Cup, especially as he’s in the right form to add his name to the record books.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The ever-present Portuguese legend could be attending his fifth World Cup in 2026. As he’s also on 8 goals, he’ll only need to score twice more to join the top ten list. Though not always a mainstay in the Portugal side anymore, we should still see Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup, and he features regularly enough to manage a few more goals by the end of the tournament.

Neymar

The current top goalscorer of the Brazilian national team, Neymar is another player on eight goals at the tournament. Though less of a guarantee to travel as he comes to the tail-end of his career in South America, should he feature in the Brazilian squad he might just be able to squeeze himself into the top ten World Cup goalscorers.

How to bet on the 2026 World Cup top goalscorer

Betting on who will win the World Cup is a thrill, as it brings together some of the best and most prolific goalscorers in global football. Here at Betway, we give users access to a huge variety of markets, including tournament winner and World Cup betting markets specific to many teams.

As we also get closer to teams fighting for the world’s most coveted prize, keep an eye out for World Cup top goalscorer odds so that you can be the first to predict who might be the highest scorer in the 2026 edition! Head over to the Betway site or use our mobile app through the App Store or Play Store to start your World Cup betting now!