Lionel Messi has overtaken Miroslav Klose to top the overall World Cup scoring chart
Brazil great Ronaldo stands one goal behind Klose in third
Kylian Mbappe has climbed above compatriot Just Fontaine
Ever since its inception in 1930, the FIFA World Cup™ has brought together the globe's greatest players in a celebration of the beautiful game.
Prior to the , Miroslav Klose was the outright leader, but Lionel Messi has now overtaken him at the top of the charts after a hat-trick - his first in the World Cup - in Argentina's opening game against Algeria, before finding the net again against Austria.
Here, FIFA lists the leading marksmen in World Cup history.
Goals: 17 World Cups: Six - 2006 (one goal), 2010 (no goals), 2014 (four goals), 2018 (one goal), 2022 (seven goals), 2026 (four goals to date) Matches played: 28
Goals: 16 World Cups: Four - 2002 (five goals), 2006 (five goals), 2010 (four goals), 2014 (two goals) Matches played: 24
Goals: 15 World Cups: Four - 1994 (no goals), 1998 (four goals), 2002 (eight goals), 2006 (three goals) Matches played: 19
Goals: 14 World Cups: Two - 1970 (10 goals), 1974 (four goals) Matches played: 13
Goals: 14 World Cups: Three - 2018 (four goals), 2022 (eight goals), 2026 (two goals to date) Matches played: 15
Goals: 13 World Cups: One - 1958 Matches played: Six
Goals: 12 World Cups: Four - 1958 (six goals), 1962 (one goal), 1966 (one goal), 1970 (four goals) Matches played: 14
Goals: 11 World Cups: Three - 1990 (three goals), 1994 (five goals), 1998 (three goals) Matches played: 17
Goals: 11 World Cups: One - 1954 Matches played: Five
Goals: 10 World Cups: Three - 1994 (four goals), 1998 (five goals), 2002 (one goal) Matches played: 12
Goals: 10 World Cups: Three - 1970 (five goals), 1978 (five goals), 1982 (no goals) Matches played: 13
Goals: 10 World Cups: Three – 2018 (six goals), 2022 (two goals), 2026 (two goals) Matches played: 12
Goals: 10 World Cups: Three - 1974 (seven goals), 1978 (two goals), 1982 (one goal) Matches played: 20
Goals: 10 World Cups: Two - 1986 (six goals), 1990 (four goals) Matches played: 12
Goals: 10 World Cups: Four - 2010 (five goals), 2014 (five goals), 2018 (no goals), 2022 (no goals) Matches played: 19
Goals: 10 World Cups: Two - 1954 (four goals), 1958 (six goals) Matches played: 10
Goals: 9 World Cups: One - 1950 Matches played: Six
Goals: 9 World Cups: Three - 1990 (two goals), 1994 (five goals), 1998 (two goals) Matches played: 16
Goals: 9 World Cups: One - 1966 Matches played: Six
Goals: 9 World Cups: Three - 1966 (no goals), 1970 (seven goals), 1974 (two goals) Matches played: 16
Goals: 9 World Cups: Two - 1978 (three goals), 1982 (six goals) Matches played: 14
Goals: 9 World Cups: Three - 1978 (three goals), 1982 (five goals), 1986 (one goal) Matches played: 19
Goals: 9 World Cups: Four - 1958 (two goals), 1962 (two goals), 1966 (two goals), 1970 (three goals) Matches played: 21
Goals: 9 World Cups: Two - 1958 (five goals), 1962 (four goals) Matches played: 10
Goals: 9 World Cups: Two - 1998 (five goals), 2002 (four goals) Matches played: Nine
Goals: 9 World Cups: Three - 2006 (three goals), 2010 (five goals), 2014 (one goal) Matches played: 12
Sources: FIFA Official
