World Cup Scorers history changed again as Lionel Messi moved level with Miroslav Klose at the top of the men’s all-time list.
Messi scored a hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City, lifting his career World Cup total from 13 goals to 16. The performance placed him alongside Germany’s Klose, who had held the outright record since the 2014 World Cup.
The Argentina captain is not yet the sole record holder. He is now tied with Klose on 16 goals and needs one more to stand alone as the highest scorer in men’s World Cup history.
The record race also tightened because Kylian Mbappé scored twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal earlier in the day. Those goals moved the France captain to 14 World Cup goals, level with Gerd Müller and within two of the record.
World Cup Scorers List After Messi’s Hat Trick
The updated men’s World Cup top scorers list now looks different from the pre-tournament ranking.
Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi share first place with 16 goals each. Ronaldo Nazário of Brazil follows with 15 goals. Kylian Mbappé and Gerd Müller are now tied on 14 goals.
Just Fontaine remains on 13 goals, while Pelé is on 12.
That means Messi passed Ronaldo, Müller and Mbappé in one night, while also reaching Klose’s historic mark. The hat trick was one of the most important individual World Cup performances of his career because it changed the all-time scoring table in real time.
Updated men’s World Cup goals list:
- Miroslav Klose, Germany: 16 goals
- Lionel Messi, Argentina: 16 goals
- Ronaldo Nazário, Brazil: 15 goals
- Kylian Mbappé, France: 14 goals
- Gerd Müller, West Germany: 14 goals
- Just Fontaine, France: 13 goals
- Pelé, Brazil: 12 goals
Because Messi and Mbappé are active at the 2026 World Cup, these numbers could change again before the tournament ends.
Klose’s Record Had Stood Since 2014
Klose built his 16-goal total across four World Cups: 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014.
His record-breaking goal came during Germany’s famous 7-1 win over Brazil in the 2014 semifinal. Germany later won the tournament, giving Klose a World Cup title to go with the scoring record.
Klose’s achievement stood out because of its consistency. He scored in four different tournaments and remained productive across more than a decade of international football.
For years, his 16-goal mark looked difficult to reach. Ronaldo had finished his World Cup career on 15, while Müller’s 14-goal total had already survived for decades.
Messi and Mbappé have now brought the record back into play.
Messi Adds Another Historic Chapter
Messi entered the 2026 World Cup with 13 goals in the competition.
His hat trick against Algeria changed everything. He scored early to move level with Mbappé and Müller, struck again to match Ronaldo, then completed the hat trick to join Klose at the top.
The performance also came as Argentina began its title defense. After winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Messi returned in 2026 with another chance to add to his legacy.
His latest milestone matters because it adds longevity to his World Cup story. Messi has now scored across multiple editions and remained decisive at an age when most forwards are no longer leading national teams on the biggest stage.
He is now one goal away from owning the record outright.
Mbappé Remains the Long-Term Threat
Mbappé’s two goals against Senegal made the race even more compelling.
The France captain is now on 14 World Cup goals, only two behind Klose and Messi. At 27, he has time on his side and could still challenge the record during the 2026 tournament.
Mbappé’s scoring pace is remarkable. He won the Golden Boot in 2022 and scored a hat trick in that final against Argentina. His latest brace against Senegal showed that he remains France’s most dangerous attacking weapon.
He also became France’s all-time leading scorer after moving past Olivier Giroud. That gives him two major scoring chases at once: national-team history and World Cup history.
For now, Messi has moved ahead of him again. But Mbappé is close enough to keep pressure on the record.
Why the Record Race Matters
The World Cup scoring record is one of football’s most prestigious individual marks.
Unlike club records, it can only be chased every four years. Players need fitness, form, national-team qualification and deep tournament runs to build large totals.
That is why Klose’s record lasted so long. It required not only finishing ability but also durability and team success. Germany reached the latter stages repeatedly during his World Cup career, giving him enough matches to score 16 goals.
Messi’s rise to the top tier followed a different path. His early World Cups were defined more by creativity and playmaking than pure goal scoring. His later tournaments turned him into a more decisive finisher on the biggest stage.
Mbappé’s path is different again. He has scored heavily from the start of his World Cup career and may have several tournaments left.
What Comes Next
The men’s World Cup scoring record is now live.
Messi can break it with one more goal for Argentina. Mbappé can move closer with every France match. If both teams go deep, the race could become one of the central storylines of the 2026 World Cup.
For now, the accurate headline is clear: Messi has tied Klose, not passed him.
That still makes the moment historic. A hat trick in Argentina’s opening match moved Messi to 16 World Cup goals, placed him level with the record holder and put him within one finish of standing alone at the top of football’s biggest scoring chart.
Read Also: Messi World Cup Record Tied in Stunning Hat Trick
