Most Goals Scored at the World Cup by Individual Players: The All-Time FIFA Rankings

Scoring at a FIFA World Cup is the purest fast track to football immortality.

For some players, one goal on the biggest stage is enough to secure a place in history. For a rare few, though, the World Cup becomes a recurring showcase — tournament after tournament, goal after goal, until their names rise above the rest.

As of June 2026, just before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the all-time list of the most goals scored at World Cups by individual players remains one of the most fascinating records in football. It blends icons from different eras, from old-school poachers and all-time greats to modern superstars still chasing the numbers.

Here is the latest look at the top World Cup goalscorers in history, how they built their totals, and which active players could still climb the rankings.

Who Has Scored the Most Goals in FIFA World Cup History?

The player with the most goals in men’s FIFA World Cup history is Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals for Germany across four tournaments.

Klose broke the previous record held by Brazil’s Ronaldo in 2014 and has remained at the top ever since. What makes his total even more impressive is the consistency: he scored in each of the four World Cups he played, from 2002 to 2014.

For years, Klose’s mark looked almost unreachable. But with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé both entering the 2026 tournament, the chase is very much alive again.

The All-Time Leading World Cup Goalscorers

Here are the leading men’s World Cup scorers heading into the 2026 tournament:

1) Miroslav Klose (Germany) — 16 goals

The all-time leader. Klose scored five goals in 2002, five in 2006, four in 2010 and two in 2014. He was not the flashiest forward of his generation, but few strikers have ever been so dependable on the biggest stage.

2) Ronaldo (Brazil) — 15 goals

Brazil’s Ronaldo came within one of the record, scoring across the 1998, 2002 and 2006 tournaments. His eight-goal campaign in 2002 remains one of the great World Cup scoring performances.