Kylian Mbappe Leapfrogs Lionel Messi, Becomes Joint-Third Highest Goal Scorer In FIFA World Cup

Published 16 June 2026 · sports

Kylian Mbappe Leapfrogs Lionel Messi, Becomes Joint-Third Highest Goal Scorer In FIFA World Cup Published By, Last Updated: June 17, 2026, 04:18 IST Messi has

Kylian Mbappe Leapfrogs Lionel Messi, Becomes Joint-Third Highest Goal Scorer In FIFA World Cup Published By, Last Updated: June 17, 2026, 04:18 IST Messi has scored 13 goals in 26 FIFA World Cup matches for Argentina, whereas Mbappé has scored 14 goals in 15 matches for France. Kylian Mbappe overtakes Lionel Messi in list of players with most goals in FIFA World Cup. (Picture Credit: AP) Kylian Mbappé was on fire for France in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I opener against Senegal. The 27-year-old played the entire match for the two-time World Cup winners on Tuesday (Wednesday IST) and scored a brace. He opened the scoring for Les Bleus in the 66th minute and added another in the 90+6th minute at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Mbappé’s brace in France’s first match of this year’s World Cup took his tally to 14 goals in 15 FIFA World Cup matches for France. He now tops the list of players with the most goals for France in the tournament’s history and has also leapfrogged Lionel Messi in the all-time standings.

Messi, who will play his first match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Wednesday morning against Algeria, has 13 goals to his name in 26 matches across five editions for Argentina. The record for the most goals in FIFA World Cup history belongs to former Germany forward Miroslav Klose. Klose played 24 matches for Germany across four editions (2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014) and scored 16 goals. Most goals in FIFA World Cup RANK PLAYER TEAM MATCHES GOALS 1. Miroslav Klose Germany 24 16 2. Ronaldo Brazil 19 15 3. Gerd Müller West Germany 13 14 Kylian Mbappé France 15 14 5. Just Fontaine France 6 13 Lionel Messi Argentina 26 13 7. Pelé Brazil 14 12 8. Sándor Kocsis Hungary 5 11 Jürgen Klinsmann Germany 17 11 He is followed by Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário, who played 19 matches for Brazil across four editions (1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006) and scored 15 goals. On the other hand, the ongoing edition is Mbappé’s third FIFA World Cup for France. He made his World Cup debut in 2018, scoring four goals in seven matches.

He won the Silver Ball in the 2018 edition and helped France secure their second World Cup title. In the 2022 edition, Mbappé scored eight goals in seven matches for France, including a hat-trick against Argentina in the final. Goals by Kylian Mbappe in FIFA World Cup GOAL AGAINST VENUE DATE 1 Peru Ekaterinburg Arena, Yekaterinburg June 21, 2018 2 Argentina Kazan Arena, Kazan June 30, 2018 3 Argentina Kazan Arena, Kazan June 30, 2018 4 Croatia Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow July 15, 2018 5 Australia Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah November 22, 2022 6 Denmark Stadium 974, Doha November 26, 2022 7 Denmark Stadium 974, Doha November 26, 2022 8 Poland Al Thumama Stadium, Doha December 4, 2022 9 Poland Al Thumama Stadium, Doha December 4, 2022 10 Argentina Lusail Stadium, Lusail December 18, 2022 11 Argentina Lusail Stadium, Lusail December 18, 2022 12 Argentina Lusail Stadium, Lusail December 18, 2022 13 Senegal New York New Jersey Stadium June 16, 2026 14 Senegal New York New Jersey Stadium June 16, 2026 Germany forward Gerd Müller also scored 14 goals in FIFA World Cup history.