Lionel Messi today became the best scorer in the history of the World Cup. The Argentine star now has 18 goals in six World Cup appearances. He overtook Miroslav Klose, who held the record from 2014 with a total of 16 goals.
Starting in the match against Austria, Messi scored twice after also missing a shot from 11 meters. In the first round, he scored a hat-trick, against Algeria (3-0). At almost 39 years old (he will turn 24 on Wednesday, June 24), the 2022 world champion has confirmed that he is in enviable sporting shape.
Former Barcelona and PSG player, currently at Inter Miami, in the USA, Lionel Messi scored the first goal in the World Cup when he was 18 years and 357 days old, on June 16, 2006. He then contributed to Argentina’s 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Messi scored 7 goals.
Football WC top scorers ranking (all-time)
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) 18 goals (28 games played in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
2. Miroslav Klose (Germany) 16 goals (24 / 2002, 2006T, 2010, 2014)
3. Ronaldo (Brazil) 15 goals (19 / 1994, 1998, 2002T, 2006)
4-5. Gerd Müller (RF Germany) 14 goals (13 / 1970, 1974)
4-5. Kylian Mbappé (France) 14 goals (15 / 2018, 2022T, 2026)
6. Just Fontaine (France) 13 goals (6 / 1958)
7. Pelé (Brazil) 12 goals (14 / 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970)
8-9. Sándor Kocsis (Hungary) 11 goals (5 / 1954)
8-9. Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany) 11 goals (17 / 1990, 1994, 1998)
10-16. Helmut Rahn (RF Germany) 10 goals (10 / 1954, 1958)
10-16. Gary Lineker (England) 10 goals (12 / 1986, 1990)
10-16. Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) 10 goals (12 / 1994, 1998, 2002)
10-16. Harry Kane (England) 10 goals (12 / 2018, 2022, 2026)
10-16. Teófilo Cubillas (Peru) 10 goals (13 / 1970, 1978, 1982)
10-16. Thomas Müller (Germany) 10 goals (19 / 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
10-16. Grzegorz Lato (Poland) 10 goals (20 / 1974, 1978, 1982)
