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Miroslav Klose is the all-time leading Men’s FIFA World Cup goal scorer
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13 players have scored 10 or more goals in World Cup history
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Read below for the highest World Cup scorers of all-time
The World Cup is the biggest event for football betting. While there might be changes coming to its structure and regularity, the competition which pits the best national teams in the world against one another will remain the pinnacle.
It has millions (or billions) of eyes from every continent. It’s a chance for players and managers to write their name into the sport’s history books forever. Around 1.5 billion people tuned into the enthralling 2022 World Cup final between France and Argentina.
Betting on the World Cup can start years before the tournament in outright markets. Football associations plan the development of their team in line with the World Cup cycle, and managerial contracts often run between tournaments.
Fairly or otherwise, legacies can often be influenced by how players perform with the weight of their country on their shoulders. It is a chance to become a national hero and, in some cases, a villain.
It is the defining month or so of the international game. Here are the players who have shone brightest in World Cup competition, leading the all-time goal scoring charts.
Grzegorz Lato – 10
Playing in the 1974, 1978 and 1982 World Cups for Poland, Grzegorz Lato took 20 matches to score his 10 World Cup goals, giving him the worst goals-per-game ratio of any player in double figures.
Lato amassed 100 caps for the Biało-czerwoni between 1971 and 1984, while winning a couple of Polish top flight league titles with Stal Mielec in his club career.
He finished third at two World Cups and won two Olympic medals with Poland, including a gold at the 1972 Games.
Thomas Muller – 10
The only player in this group to feature in World Cup predictions in 2022, Thomas Muller could well climb this list by the end of the tournament in Qatar.
Muller reached the double-digit mark in his first two World Cup appearances (2010, 2014), and failed to score at the tournament in 2018. He’s bound to play a role for Germany in 2022 too, however, after a late-career resurgence at Bayern.
Teofilo Cubillas – 10
Lima native Teofilo Cubillas played in three World Cups for Peru. He scored 26 times for La Blanquirroja, with 10 of those coming across the 1970 and 1978 World Cups.
Cubillas, who played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Porto during a journeyed club career, also featured in the 1982 but failed to score with Peru knocked out as bottom of their group.
Gabriel Batistuta – 10
Simply one of the greatest strikers of his generation, Gabriel Batistuta scored 10 World Cup goals in just 12 appearances. He never lifted the famous trophy, however, despite securing a couple of Copa America wins with Argentina.
Batigol, an icon of the late-1990s, was a force to be reckoned with in his pomp, combining power with elite technical ability.
Gary Lineker – 10
Winner of the World Cup Golden Boot in 1986 and runner-up in Ballon d’Or voting in the same year, Gary Lineker was a prolific goal scorer long before he was a popular presenter on BBC and BT.
Lineker’s six goals at the 1986 tournament made up the majority of his World Cup contributions, though England’s efforts came to a controversial end due to Diego Maradona’s Hand of God in the last eight.
Helmut Rahn – 10
Playing for Germany in the 1954 and 1958 tournaments, Helmut Rahn scored 10 goals in 10 appearances.
He’s one of just four players in World Cup history to have reached double digits and averaged a goal-per-game or better.
Rahn’s greatest moment was the World Cup-winning goal over Hungary in the 1954 final. Der Boss earned a Ballon d’Or second place finish a couple of years later.
Jurgen Klinsmann – 11
A World Cup winner in 1990, Jurgen Klinsmann spread his 11 goals across 17 appearances at three tournaments.
He was the first player to score at least three in three successive World Cups, and was pivotal in their 1990 win, including playing alone up front against the Netherlands.
The former Tottenham forward has since tried his hand at management, and even led Germany to a third-place finish at the 2006 World Cup.
Sandor Kocsis – 11
Scorer of 11 goals in five appearances at the 1954 World Cup, Sandor Kocsis was a prolific goal-getter for club and country throughout his career.
His 11 goals at one tournament was a record at the time as Hungary made it all the way to the final. A four-time champion in Hungary and twice in Spain with Barcelona, Kocsis also won a gold medal at the 1952 Olympics.
Kylian Mbappe – 12
Dazzling as a teenager in 2018 on the way to France’s World Cup win in Russia, Kylian Mbappe was even better in Qatar four years later.
The Frenchman starred throughout the tournament, culminating in an outrageous hat-trick against Argentina in the final. Mbappe won the Golden Boot and Silver Ball for his efforts, and moved level on all-time World Cup goals with Pele.
His hat-trick was the first in a final since 1966, and he’s already got the most World Cup final goals of any player. Only a penalty shootout (which Mbappe scored in) stopped him from winning a second World Cup.
Pele – 12
Arguably the greatest player in the history of the sport, Pele played at four World Cups, scoring 12 times in 14 appearances. He won three of those tournaments and was given the Golden Ball for his performances at the 1970 edition.
Of course, Pele’s goal scoring was just one string to his bow. He was so much more than a finisher for those wonderful Brazil sides, which was perhaps best demonstrated by his assist for Carlos Alberto for what is the greatest team goal of all-time.
Lionel Messi – 13
After failing to score at the 2010 World Cup and suffering a heart-breaking defeat in 2014, the 2022 World Cup was Lionel Messi’s last shot at World Cup glory. He did not disappoint.
Messi had six goals through his first four World Cups. He scored seven in Qatar, finishing as runner-up to Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race.
The Argentine became the first player since the current format was adopted to score in every round of the competition, including two goals in the final. He’s the only player to win the World Cup Golden Ball twice.
While some thought Messi might retire after lifting the trophy, he has extended his international career. Qatar also saw him break the records for the most World Cup appearances and goal involvements.
Just Fontaine – 13
Just Fontaine made only 21 appearances for France. Six of those were at the 1958 World Cup, where he scored 13 times. That record for goals in a single World Cup still stands and will take some beating.
On the efforts of just one World Cup, Fontaine resides fourth in the all-time scoring charts. Four of his 13 came against defending champions West Germany, too. A true World Cup legend.
Gerd Müller – 14
As clinical as they come in front of goal, Gerd Müller is one of the best finishers the sport has ever seen. Among a record of 68 goals in 62 Germany caps, Der Bomber netted 14 in 13 World Cup appearances.
Gerd Müller won the 1974 edition of the tournament, and also picked up the Golden Boot. His 10 goals at the 1970 World Cup were three more than the next highest tally.
Ronaldo – 15
Fittingly breaking Gerd Müller’s record in Germany, Ronaldo finished his international career with 15 goals in 19 World Cup matches.
O Fenômeno was majestic at the 1998 tournament before the mysterious circumstances surrounding Brazil’s loss to France in the final.
In 2002, he was a different player, but he was every bit as dominant as Brazil lifted the trophy and he finished with the Golden Boot.
Miroslav Klose – 16
A player who saved his best for when World Cup betting rolled round, Miroslav Klose was an effective player at club level, but his World Cup record is the greatest achievement of his career.
Klose scored in four World Cups, suffering heartbreak in 2002, 2006 and 2010 before Germany’s triumph at the 2014 tournament.
The Opole-born striker scored 10 goals across the 2002 and 2006 editions, winning the Golden Boot at the latter.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
