Most goals in one World Cup: How Messi, Mbappe, Jude Bellingham compare to Just Fontaine's record

The stars have come to play at the 2026 World Cup, as the tournament has brought out the best among the best players in the world.

From Lionel Messi to Kylian Mbappe, dynamic players have helped carry their teams far in the tournament as they aim to win the first expanded World Cup. While those players aren't necessarily looking for personal glory over team success, they could have a chance to approach a 68-year-old record.

Every player remaining in the tournament will have two chances to add to their goals total, as winners will play in the final and losers will play in the third-place match.. Here's a look at how players like Messi and Mbappe can break this World Cup record this year.

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Most goals at 2026 World Cup

The Golden Boot race at the 2026 World Cup is exciting, as several players remaining have a chance to claim the award.

• Kylian Mbappe: 10
• Lionel Messi: 8
• Erling Haaland: 7
• Jude Bellingham: 6
• Harry Kane: 6

Five players have scored at least six goals at the 2026 World Cup, with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi leading the way with eight. Of the top-five goal-scorers in the World Cup, four are playing in the semifinals while Erling Haaland is the lone player who was eliminated over the weekend.

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• World Cup prize money breakdown

Most goals in one World Cup

Just Fontaine has held the record for most goals in a single World Cup for the past 68 years, a record that has appeared very difficult to break. The French forward played in just the one World Cup due to a leg injury that ended his career early, but he certainly made the most of it.

The World Cup featured just 16 goals in 1958, and Fontaine still scored 13 times in a maximum of six total games. He began his tournament with a bang, producing a hat trick in the first group stage match vs. Paraguay, then added two vs. Yugoslavia and one against Scotland to end the group stage with six.

In the knockout round, Fontaine collected a brace as France beat Northern Ireland, but the French lost in the semifinals when Fontaine added just one more goal. Entering the third-place match with nine goals and two shy of the record Sander Kocsis set four years earlier, Fontaine exploded with four goals against West Germany as France secured third place.

Fontaine played every minute of every match in 1958, leading to him becoming one of the most prolific goal-scorers in World Cup history.