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World Cup leading goalscorers of all time: Messi surpasses Pele, Mbappe joins elite list

Following two goals for Lionel Messi and a hat-trick for Kylian Mbappe in the 2022 World Cup final, Sports Mole looks at the latest standings in the all-time top-scorer list.

The 2022 World Cup final lived up to its significant billing as Argentina and France played out one of the greatest football matches of all time at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar.

The two stars of the show took centre stage too as Lionel Messi scored twice and Kylian Mbappe went one better with a hat-trick, just the second ever in a men's World Cup final.

However, it was Messi who claimed the biggest prize as he finally got his hands on the World Cup trophy, Argentina winning 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a classic 3-3 draw over 120 minutes.

Messi's two goals took him up to 13 at World Cups in total, surpassing Brazilian legend Pele and moving level with France's Just Fontaine as the joint-fourth highest scorers in the tournament's history.

Mbappe, meanwhile, became only the 14th player to reach double figures in World Cups and, at the age of just 23, has now scored the same number of World Cup goals as Pele, and more in World Cup finals than any other player.

The Frenchman now needs just five more future World Cup goals to become the all-time leading scoring in the competition, having claimed the Golden Boot with his eight strikes in Qatar.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the latest standings in the all-time World Cup goalscoring list following Sunday's breathless epic.



1. Miroslav Klose (Germany)

Germany's Miroslav Klose holds the World Cup trophy after the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro July 13, 2014© Reuters

Goals: 16
Appearances: 24
Ratio: 0.67
Tournaments: 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014



2. Ronaldo (Brazil)

Brazil's Ronaldo lifts the 2002 World Cup© Reuters

Goals: 15
Appearances: 19
Ratio: 0.79
Tournaments: 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006



3. Gerd Muller (West Germany)

Gerd Muller scores for West Germany at the 1974 World Cup© Reuters

Goals: 14
Appearances: 13
Ratio: 1.08
Tournaments: 1970, 1974



4. Just Fontaine (France)

France legend Just Fontaine© Reuters

Goals: 13
Appearances: 6
Ratio: 2.17
Tournaments: 1958



5. Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal on December 18, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 13
Appearances: 26
Ratio: 0.50
Tournaments: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022



6. Pele (Brazil)

Pele wheels away in celebration after scoring in the 1970 World Cup final against Italy© Reuters

Goals: 12
Appearances: 14
Ratio: 0.86
Tournaments: 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970



7. Kylian Mbappe (France)

Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring for France against Argentina on December 18, 2022© Reuters

Goals: 12
Appearances: 14
Ratio: 0.86
Tournaments: 2018, 2022



8. Sandor Kocsis (Hungary)

Goals: 11
Appearances: 5
Ratio: 2.20
Tournaments: 1954



9. Jurgen Klinsmann (West Germany & Germany)

Jurgen Klinsmann celebrates scoring for Germany at the 1998 World Cup© Reuters

Goals: 11
Appearances: 17
Ratio: 0.65
Tournaments: 1990, 1994, 1998



10. Helmut Rahn (West Germany)

Goals: 10
Appearances: 10
Ratio: 1.00
Tournaments: 1954, 1958



11. Gary Lineker (England)

Gary Lineker scores the first goal for England at the 1990 World Cup© Reuters

Goals: 10
Appearances: 12
Ratio: 0.83
Tournaments: 1986, 1990



12. Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina)

Gabriel Batistuta celebrates scoring for Argentina at the 1998 World Cup© Reuters

Goals: 10
Appearances: 12
Ratio: 0.83
Tournaments: 1994, 1998, 2002



13. Teofilo Cubillas (Peru)

Goals: 10
Appearances: 13
Ratio: 0.77
Tournaments: 1970, 1978, 1982



14. Thomas Muller (Germany)

Germany's Thomas Muller lifts the World Cup trophy in 2014© Reuters

Goals: 10
Appearances: 19
Ratio: 0.53
Tournaments: 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022



15. Grzegorz Lato (Poland)

Goals: 10
Appearances: 20
Ratio: 0.50
Tournaments: 1974, 1978, 1982


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Barney Corkhill
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Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martinez and Kylian Mbappe pictured with their individual awards at the World Cup on December 18, 2022
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