Who Has the Most Goals in the World Cup?

The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of soccer. Every four years, the sport’s greatest players compete in the month-long tournament, while the deadliest strikers on the planet battle it out for the Golden Boot.

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The Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals in the World Cup, meaning only the very best players scoop the prize. Here are the top goalscorers in World Cup history.

#1 Miroslav Klose – Germany (16)

Miroslav Klose is the top goalscorer in World Cup history, having netted 16 goals in 24 games. The German striker featured at four World Cups between 2002 and 2014, winning the Golden Boot in 2006 before firing his country to glory in 2014. In total, Klose bagged 71 goals in 137 international appearances.

#2 Ronaldo – Brazil (15)

When it comes to discussing the players with the most goals in the World Cup, Ronaldo invariably gets a mention. Between 1998 and 2006, the iconic Brazilian forward netted 15 goals in 19 World Cup matches. “O Fenomeno” even managed to win both the World Cup and Golden Boot in 2002, scoring eight goals in seven games.

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#3 Gerd Muller – West Germany (14)

Gerd Muller finds himself at #3 on the list of players with the most World Cup goals. Although the West Germany only featured at two World Cups, he managed to rack up 14 goals in 13 matches between 1970 and 1974. As a result, the Bayern Munich legend boasts an impressive goals-ger-game ratio of 1.08.

#4 Just Fontaine – France (13)

If you think Muller’s goals-per-game ratio is impressive, then Just Fontaine’s record will blow you away. Believe it or not, Fontaine scored 13 goals across six outings in his first and only World Cup appearance, meaning he averages an outrageous 2.17 goals per game. Not only did he score a hat-trick against Paraguay, but also scored four goals against Germany.

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#5 Lionel Messi – Argentina (13)

While Fontaine scored 13 goals in six World Cup matches, Lionel Messi reached the same milestone after 26 matches. Still, the Argentine megastar’s achievements cannot be overlooked. After making his World Cup debut in 2006, Messi fired Argentina to the title in 2022, chalking up seven goals and three assists along the way.

#6 Pele – Brazil (12)

Pele holds multiple records thanks to a remarkable career that saw him score goals at a frightening rate. In fact, the legendary Brazilian is the only player to have won three World Cup titles. He is also one of the top goalscorers in World Cup history, having netted 12 goals in 14 appearances between 1958 and 1970.

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#7 Kylian Mbappe – France (12)

Like Pele, Kylian Mbappe has scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup matches. However, Mbappe is still just 24 years of age, meaning he has plenty of time to climb the list of the World Cup’s top scorers. After scoring four goals on his way to lifting the trophy with France in 2018, Mbappe notched eight goals and two assists in 2022.