All-time World Cup Top Goalscorers; Lionel Messi draws level Miroslav Klose

Miroslav Klose now has Lionel Messi for company at the top of the all-time World Cup goalscoring charts.

The German forward featured at four World Cups, finishing runner-up in 2002, third in both 2006 and 2010 before finally lifting the trophy when defeating Argentina in the 2014 final.

Klose netted 16 times across 24 appearances at the tournament, scoring one hat-trick against Saudi Arabia in 2002.

He had been holding the record outright for 12 years, however, he has now been joined by Lionel Messi following his stunning hat-trick during Argentina's opening game of the 2026 World Cup against Algeria.

Messi -- at long last a World Cup winner in 2022 -- entered the most recent tournament alongside Just Fontaine in terms of goals but his maiden World Cup treble took him past Kylian Mbappe, Gerd Muller and Ronaldo in one fell swoop to level Klose.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is now Argentina's youngest and oldest World Cup goalscorer.

Mbappe will himself fancy his chances of going past Klose this summer. In just 15 matches, the 26-year-old has netted 14 goals and is again expected to go deep in the tournament with France.

German great Muller is also on 14 goals, coming in just 13 games whilst Ronaldo accrued his 15-strong tally in 19 matches; leading Brazil to World Cup success in 2002.

Top Goalscorers in World Cup history

• Miroslav Klose - 16
• Lionel Messi - 16
• Ronaldo - 15
• Gerd Muller - 14
• Kylian Mbappe - 14
• Just Fontaine - 13
• Pele - 12
• Sandor Kocsis - 11
• Jurgen Klinsmann - 11
• Helmut Rahn - 10
• Gary Lineker - 10
• Gabriel Batistuta - 10
• Teofilo Cubillas - 10
• Thomas Muller - 10
• Grzegorz Lato - 10
• Ademir - 9
• Eusebio - 9
• Christian Vieri - 9
• Vava - 9
• David Villa - 9
• Paolo Rossi - 9
• Jairzinho - 9
• Roberto Baggio - 9
• Karl-Heinz Rummenigge - 9
• Uwe Seeler - 9