FIFA world cup is the largest arena in football where legends are made and memorable moments are developed. Although the ultimate goal is to win the trophy, personal brilliance, particularly goal scoring is a factor that frequently characterizes the legacies of a player.
Throughout the history of the World Cup, there are only a few players who have been able to deliver results in a series of tournaments. Their ambitions have excited fans, determined matches and contributed to the history of football.
Here are the top 15 highest goal scorers in FIFA World Cup history.
1. Miroslav Klose – 16 Goals
Miroslav Klose is a German striker who has the highest number of goals in the world cup history having scored 16.
He competed in four tournaments (2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014) and broke the previous record at the 2014 tournament at Brazil. Germany national football team also won the 2014 world cup with the assistance of Klose, and this act made him one of the greatest club strikers ever in the history of the tournament.
2. Ronaldo Nazário – 15 Goals
Ronaldo Nazario, a Brazilian legend, has been the all time record scorer in the tournament.
Considered a very quick and clinical finisher, Ronaldo contributed 15 goals to the 1998, 2002, and 2006 tournaments. His most memorable campaign was in 2002 when he became a goal scorer with eight goals and made Brazil national football team win the world cup.
3. Gerd Müller – 14 Goals
German attacker Gerd Muller was a killer striker that football had ever witnessed.
He also scored 14 goals within two tournaments (1970 and 1974) and the goal that won the world cup final in 1974 against England and he succeeded in helping Germany to win the trophy.
4. Just Fontaine – 13 Goals
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The French striker Just Fontaine is the owner of one of the greatest records in the world of football.
He earned 13 goals during one world cup (1958) which is to date considered as the record. This remarkable performance is something Fontaine did in six games only.
5. Lionel Messi – 13 Goals
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Lionel Messi further established his legend status at the 2022 world cup where he led Argentina national football team to win the game.
Messi also scored vital goals in various tournaments and completed with 13 World Cup goals becoming the greatest scorer in World Cups in the history of Argentina.
6. Kylian Mbappé – 12 Goals
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Kylian Mbappé, the French superstar, has already established itself as one of the most prolific scorers in the world cup despite being quite young.
In 2018, he had four goals, which led France national football team to the trophy, and in 2022 he had eight more, one of which was a historic hat-trick in the final.
7. Pelé – 12 Goals
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The great footballer, Pelé, is still considered one of the most successful players in the sport of football.
He has scored 12 goals in four world cups and three world cups were won by Brazil through him (1958, 1962 and 1970).
8. Sándor Kocsis – 11 Goals
Sandor Kocsis, a Hungarian, was a striker who scored 11 goals in the 1954 world cup and specially took Hungary into the final.
This impressive scoring streak saw him score two hat-tricks in the tournament.
9. Jürgen Klinsmann – 11 Goals
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German international forward Jurgen Klinsmann was a reliable player who played at three tournaments.
Between 1990 and 1998 he had 11 goals at the World Cup which saw Germany win the world cup in 1990.
10. Grzegorz Lato – 10 Goals
Grzegorz Lato was a Polish winger who scored 10 goals in the world cups, seven of which he scored in the world cup, of 1974, where he won the golden boot.
11. Gary Lineker – 10 Goals
Gary Lineker is an England striker who scored 10 goals in the world cup.
In the year 1986 he was awarded the Golden Boot having scored six goals in the tournament.
12. Gabriel Batistuta – 10 Goals
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Gabriel Batistuta was an Argentine striker who was known to have powerful finishing.
He was the player who scored 10 world cup goals and he is still ranked as one of the greatest forwards in Argentina.
13. Teófilo Cubillas – 10 Goals
The Peruvian legend Teofilo Cubillas has a record of 10 goals in three world cups (1970, 1978 and 1982) and is one of the most prolific scorers in the world cup in South America.
14. Thomas Müller – 10 Goals
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In 2010, the scene was stormed by German forward Thomas Moller who got five goals and the Golden Boot.
He already has 10 World Cup goals, and also has been in the 2014 winning team in Germany.
15. Helmut Rahn – 10 Goals
German forward Helmut Rahn had 10 goals in the world cup history including the notorious goal of victory of the world cup final held at the year 1954 which was the one commonly known as the Miracle of Bern.
