Mbappe Overtakes Pele, Messi to Become World Cup’s All-Time Leading Scorer

France captain and Real Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappe, has become the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer after concluding the 2026 tournament with a record 22 goals.

The updated all-time scoring rankings released by FIFA following the World Cup final place Mbappe at the top of the historic chart, ahead of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who ended his World Cup career with 21 goals.

Mbappe reached the landmark in just 22 World Cup appearances, underlining his remarkable scoring consistency on football’s biggest stage.

Messi, who featured in a record six World Cup tournaments, scored his 21 goals across 34 matches before bringing his World Cup career to an end.

Former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who held the record for more than a decade with 16 goals, now occupies third place on the all-time list.

Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazário follows in fourth place with 15 goals scored in 19 World Cup appearances.

Germany’s legendary striker Gerd Müller and England captain Harry Kane share fifth position after both finished their World Cup careers with 14 goals.

Müller achieved his tally in only 13 matches, while Kane required 18 appearances.

France’s Just Fontaine remains one of the tournament’s greatest goalscoring stories after netting 13 goals in just six matches during the 1958 FIFA World Cup.

Brazil icon Pele sits eighth on the list with 12 goals from 14 appearances.

Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann, Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo are tied on 11 goals each.

Klinsmann reached the figure in 17 matches, Kocsis scored 11 goals in only five appearances, while Cristiano Ronaldo completed his World Cup journey with 11 goals in 27 matches.

Mbappe’s latest achievement further strengthens his reputation as one of the greatest players of his generation.

The French forward also finished the 2026 tournament as the Golden Boot winner after scoring 10 goals, although France ended the competition in fourth place following defeat to England in the third-place play-off.

His World Cup scoring record adds another milestone to an already outstanding international career and places him ahead of some of football’s most celebrated names, including Messi, Pele, Ronaldo Nazário and Miroslav Klose, in the history of the FIFA World Cup.