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Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are continuing to add to their World Cup legacies at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Both players have already found the net during this year's tournament as they look to climb higher on the competition's all-time scoring charts. Each goal could prove significant in the race for World Cup history.
The Sporting News is tracking the latest standings, including the leading scorers at the 2026 World Cup, the all-time goals rankings and where Messi and Mbappe stand among the tournament's greatest goalscorers.
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World Cup goals leaders 2026
Stats current as of July 10.
| 1. | Kylian Mbappe | France | 8 (0) | 2 | 6 |
| = | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 8 (0) | 0 | 5 |
| 3. | Erling Haaland | Norway | 7 (0) | 0 | 5 |
| 4. | Harry Kane | England | 6 (2) | 1 | 5 |
| 5. | Ousmane Dembele | France | 4 (0) | 2 | 4 |
| = | Vinicius Junior | Brazil | 4 (0) | 1 | 5 |
| = | Mikel Oyarzabal | Spain | 4 (0) | 1 | 5 |
| = | Jude Bellingham | England | 4 (0) | 1 | 5 |
| = | Julian Quinones | Mexico | 4 (0) | 1 | 5 |
| = | Ismaila Sarr | Senegal | 4 (0) | 1 | 4 |
Messi has held a share of the lead in the Golden Boot race with eight goals through Argentina's six matches thus far. Mbappe, however, does hold the tiebreaker if he and Messi draw level on goals due to the Frenchman having more assists. Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Ousmane Dembele remain in contention.
Most World Cup goals all time
Stats current as of July 10.
| 1. | Lionel Messi* | Argentina | 21 | 31 | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| 2. | Kylian Mbappe* | France | 20 | 20 | 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| 3. | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 | 24 | 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 |
| 4. | Ronaldo | Brazil | 15 | 19 | 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 |
| 5. | Gerd Muller | West Germany | 14 | 13 | 1970, 1974 |
| 6. | Just Fontaine | France | 13 | 6 | 1958 |
| = | Harry Kane* | England | 13 | 15 | 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| 8. | Pele | Brazil | 12 | 14 | 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 |
| 9. | Sandor Kocsis | Hungary | 11 | 5 | 1954 |
| = | Jurgen Klinsmann | West Germany/Germany | 11 | 17 | 1990, 1994, 1998 |
| = | Cristiano Ronaldo* | Portugal | 11 | 26 | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026 |
Messi's strong start to the 2026 World Cup has seen him move clear at the top of the all-time standings, while Mbappe continues to close the gap on the players above him. The French star is the only active player other than Messi among the competition's leading goalscorers.
How many World Cup goals does Lionel Messi have?
Messi has scored 21 goals at the FIFA World Cup, the most by any player in the tournament's history.
The Argentina captain broke Miroslav Klose's long-standing record during the 2026 World Cup, continuing a scoring journey that began with his first tournament goal against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. His most prolific campaign before the 2026 World Cup came in 2022, when he scored seven times to help Argentina lift the trophy in Qatar.
Messi's record tally has come across six World Cup appearances and 31 matches.
| World Cup | Goals |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2026 | 8 |
| TOTAL: | 21 |
How many World Cup goals does Kylian Mbappe have?
Mbappe has scored 20 goals at the FIFA World Cup, a mark that has pushed him ahead to the second-most in tournament history. Mbappe also became the fastest player ever to reach 20 World Cup goals, when he did so in just 20 matches.
The France star has reached that total across three World Cup appearances and remains the youngest player among the competition's top scorers.
| World Cup | Goals |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2026 | 8 |
| TOTAL: | 20 |
World Cup goals record for one year
Just Fontaine's haul of 13 goals for France at the 1958 World Cup remains the benchmark for a single tournament.
| Rank | Player | Country | Goals | World Cup |
| 1 | Just Fontaine | France | 13 | 1958 |
| 2 | Sandor Kocsis | Hungary | 11 | 1954 |
| 3 | Gerd Muller | West Germany | 10 | 1970 |
| 4 | Eusebio | Brazil | 9 | 1966 |
| 5 | Guillermo Stabile | Argentina | 8 | 1930 |
| = | Ronaldo | Brazil | = | 2002 |
| = | Kylian Mbappe | France | = | 2022 |
| = | Lionel Messi | Argentina | = | 2026 |
| = | Kylian Mbappe | France | = | 2026 |
Fontaine's tally of 13 goals in 1958 remains one of the most enduring records in World Cup history. Mbappe's eight-goal haul in 2022 is the closest either he or Messi has come to matching the mark, with the Argentina captain scoring seven during his country's victorious campaign in Qatar.
Both players have added to their totals in 2026, but Fontaine's record remains comfortably intact.
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