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An astounding 1,388 different players have scored at least one goal in the World Cup, per data from Transfermarkt. However, only 15 have scored at least 10 goals in their World Cup careers.
That includes all-time leader Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals for Germany in four World Cups from 2002 to 2014. He notably scored five in both the 2002 and 2006 tournaments.
After him is Brazilian great Ronaldo, who netted 15 goals in three tournaments, including eight in 2002 — in which he and the Selecao won.
Germany, which has won the World Cup four times, has five out of the 15 players with 10 or more career World Cup goals. Besides Klose, Gerd Muller scored 14, former United States national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann scored 11, and Thomas Muller and Helmut Rahn both scored 10.
While Thomas Muller plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS, he has retired from international play and won’t be at the 2026 World Cup.
However, two active players on this list could add to their totals in this year’s tournament: Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Messi has 13 goals in five World Cup appearances, including seven from the 2022 edition. Mbappe, whose French side lost to Messi and Argentina in the final of the 2022 World Cup, has 12 total across two World Cups.
The 27-year-old Frenchman’s World Cup goal-scoring trajectory is a perfect match for Brazil’s Ronaldo so far. Both put away four goals in their first appearance, then eight in their second. However, Ronaldo was 29 for his third tournament, two years older than Mbappe will be at the 2026 World Cup.
Mbappe’s fellow countryman, Just Fontaine, scored the most goals in a single World Cup, netting 13 in 1958. However, Fontaine never played another World Cup and retired at 28, two years after breaking his leg.
Another notable top goal-scorer at the World Cup is the Brazilian legend Pele, who collected 12 goals across four tournaments, although he was injured mid-tournament in 1962, and Brazil exited early in 1966. Pele remains the only player with three World Cup titles to his name — in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Methodology: Data collected via individual tournament pages on Transfermarkt. Totals exclude own goals and penalty shootout goals.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who has the most World Cup goals? This chart shows how it happened
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That includes all-time leader Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals for Germany in four World Cups from 2002 to 2014. He notably scored five in both the 2002 and 2006 tournaments.
After him is Brazilian great Ronaldo, who netted 15 goals in three tournaments, including eight in 2002 — in which he and the Selecao won.
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Germany, which has won the World Cup four times, has five out of the 15 players with 10 or more career World Cup goals. Besides Klose, Gerd Muller scored 14, former United States national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann scored 11, and Thomas Muller and Helmut Rahn both scored 10.
While Thomas Muller plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS, he has retired from international play and won’t be at the 2026 World Cup.
However, two active players on this list could add to their totals in this year’s tournament: Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Messi has 13 goals in five World Cup appearances, including seven from the 2022 edition. Mbappe, whose French side lost to Messi and Argentina in the final of the 2022 World Cup, has 12 total across two World Cups.
The 27-year-old Frenchman’s World Cup goal-scoring trajectory is a perfect match for Brazil’s Ronaldo so far. Both put away four goals in their first appearance, then eight in their second. However, Ronaldo was 29 for his third tournament, two years older than Mbappe will be at the 2026 World Cup.
Mbappe’s fellow countryman, Just Fontaine, scored the most goals in a single World Cup, netting 13 in 1958. However, Fontaine never played another World Cup and retired at 28, two years after breaking his leg.
Another notable top goal-scorer at the World Cup is the Brazilian legend Pele, who collected 12 goals across four tournaments, although he was injured mid-tournament in 1962, and Brazil exited early in 1966. Pele remains the only player with three World Cup titles to his name — in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Methodology: Data collected via individual tournament pages on Transfermarkt. Totals exclude own goals and penalty shootout goals.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who has the most World Cup goals? This chart shows how it happened
Continue reading...
