The all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup history is Lionel Messi with 20 goals in the source I found, though some newer reports still show different tallies depending on whether they’re counting the latest tournament updates.

Quick Scoop

  • Most World Cup goals overall: Lionel Messi.
  • Other major names near the top: Kylian Mbappé, Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo Nazário, and Gerd Müller.
  • Single-tournament record: Just Fontaine’s 13 goals in 1958 remains the benchmark.

Top scorers

Player Goals Country
Lionel Messi 20 Argentina
Kylian Mbappé 18 France
Miroslav Klose 16 Germany
Ronaldo Nazário 15 Brazil

Note on records

Different sports pages can lag behind live tournament updates, so the exact total can vary briefly across sources during an active World Cup. The safest takeaway is that Messi is at or near the top, with Klose and Mbappé also in the all-time mix.