Lionel Messi./SCREENGRAB
Lionel Messi is the all-time leading scorer at the World Cup as he makes that signature run of his just inside the box to slot home into the bottom corner.
Messi becomes just the third player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive games after France’s Just Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970.
Messi has edged further into football history, sitting at the top of the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring list with 18 goals from 28 appearances, according to career tournament records that highlight more than two decades of elite finishing on the sport’s biggest stage.
The Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, leads a prestigious list of global icons, narrowly ahead of Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals in 24 matches. Klose, renowned for his clinical positioning and consistency across four World Cups, remains the tournament’s official record holder in many historical summaries.
Brazil’s Ronaldo, one of the most feared forwards of his era, sits third with 15 goals in just 19 appearances. Ronaldo built his reputation on explosive pace and lethal finishing, particularly during the 2002 World Cup, where he led Brazil to glory.
Germany’s legendary striker Gerd Müller follows closely with 14 goals in only 13 matches, a remarkable strike rate that underscores his reputation as one of football’s most efficient finishers. Gerd Müller achieved his tally in just two tournaments, cementing his legacy long before modern expansions of the competition.
Joining the modern era of elite scorers is France’s Kylian Mbappé, who also has 14 goals but in 15 appearances, reflecting a rapid rise on the World Cup stage. Kylian Mbappé, still in the early phase of his international career, is widely considered the most likely challenger to the long-standing records.
The ranking highlights how World Cup scoring greatness spans generations, from Müller’s efficiency in the 1970s to Mbappé’s speed-driven dominance today, with Messi standing at the summit after years of consistency and leadership on football’s biggest stage.
Well, the first goal was magnificent because Messi basically starts the move for Argentina. He plays the ball inside, and he follows his run on. Good combination play, the cross comes in low, and Messi is not going to miss another big opportunity.
It's a brilliant goal and a great move. It was just a matter of time. Lionel Messi keeps getting in those great areas with the free role he has got.
For him, that's an easy finish. The only surprise was that he didn't score earlier.
His football intelligence is off the charts; he just finds space, and the timing is great from the best player I've ever seen.
