For any footballer, the World Cup na di biggest stage wey dem fit show their skill. And when we talk about who don score di most goals for men World Cup history, na Miroslav Klose dey top di list. Di German striker set di record for 2014 when e score against Brazil for di semi-final, wey break Ronaldo‘s old record. Klose total goals na 16, wey e score across four tournaments from 2002 to 2014.
But di chase no finish. Two active players dey close behind: Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. As of 2026 World Cup, Mbappe don score 14 goals, wey put am joint third with Gerd Muller. Messi get 13 goals, wey tie am with Just Fontaine for fifth place. Both players still dey active and fit add to their tally for di rest of di tournament.
Di list of top scorers include many legends. Ronaldo, di Brazilian, get 15 goals for second place. Pele, wey many consider di greatest, get 12 goals. Other notable names include Sandor Kocsis, Jurgen Klinsmann, Gary Lineker, Gabriel Batistuta, and Thomas Muller, all with 10 goals or more.
Mbappe, wey be 27 years old, don already become one of France all-time greats. E score di opening goal for France 2026 World Cup campaign against Senegal, and later add another to become France all-time leading international goalscorer with 58 goals. E pass Olivier Giroud for dat record.
Messi finally win di World Cup for 2022, wey be di missing piece for his legendary career. E score two goals for di final against France, wey make am total seven goals for dat tournament alone. For 2026, e dey look to add more to his 13 goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo, wey be another active player, don score eight World Cup goals. E become di first male player to score for five different World Cups when e score penalty against Ghana for 2022. But all im goals don come for group stage; e never score for knockout rounds yet.
Di record books still get room for more. As di 2026 World Cup dey go, Messi and Mbappe dey try to catch Klose. But for now, Klose remain di king of World Cup goalscorers.
