The highest 9 World Cup goalscorers of all time

The 2026 FIFA World Cup could also be a way off, however it guarantees to be the largest but, with extra nations and gamers than ever earlier than.

The 2022 version was the final match to characteristic 32 groups, as from 2026 onwards, there will likely be 48 nations battling it out for the trophy on the remaining match.

This may see each confederation obtain further spots to any extent further, which might see a couple of shock nations make appearances.

Extra nations additionally imply extra video games, with 104 matches being performed in simply over a month. This, in fact, means extra targets, with the additional spherical indicating the highest scorer might probably hit double digits for the primary time since 1970.

To get everybody within the temper for the match, we have taken a take a look at the highest 9 goalscorers within the historical past of the World Cup.

9

Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany)

11 targets

Jürgen Klinsmann scored thrice as West Germany gained their third world title in 1990 in what was the final time they competed as West Germany earlier than unification.

The striker netted 5 targets for Germany in 1994, though he couldn’t spur his nation to a different world crown as they had been defeated by Bulgaria within the quarter-finals.

His swansong got here 4 years later, netting in opposition to the US, Iran and Mexico to turn out to be the primary participant to attain three targets in three successive World Cups.

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8

Sandor Kocsis (Hungary)

11 targets

Sandor Kocsis was a part of the nice Hungarian aspect which ought to have gained the 1954 match. This was the one World Cup Kocsis took half in, however he was sensational all through.

He scored three in opposition to South Korea within the opening recreation, earlier than netting 4 in opposition to West Germany. Kocsis then scored twice in opposition to Brazil and Uruguay within the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively to finish the competitors with 11 targets.

Hungary succumbed to a shock 3-2 defeat to the West Germans within the remaining, regardless of racing right into a two-goal lead.

7

Pele (Brazil)

12 targets

What extra is there to be stated about Pele’s World Cup heroics? The one participant to win the competitors thrice, Pele loved a beautiful breakthrough on the 1958 match in Sweden, scoring six targets for Brazil – together with two within the remaining – to steer the nation to their first World Cup.

Damage points affected the Brazilian in 1962 and 1966, with the nation efficiently defending their title on the former match. In his remaining main competitors, the veteran discovered the again of the web 4 instances, together with a beautiful header within the 1970 remaining in opposition to Italy, which was Brazil’s one hundredth aim in World Cup finals historical past.

6

Kylian Mbappé (France)

12 targets

Kylian Mbappé was France’s shining mild in 2018 as he scored 4 targets to assist his nation win their first World Cup since 1998, turning into the primary teenager to attain in a remaining since Pele 60 years earlier than.

His goalscoring exploits reached new highs 4 years later. France might have misplaced to Argentina within the remaining, however Mbappé’s eight targets was essentially the most at a single World Cup since 2002, and he netted the primary hat-trick in a remaining since Geoff Hurst in 1966.

With time on his aspect, he has loads of different tournaments to look ahead to, at the least with a purpose to enhance this aim tally. Having performed the identical quantity of World Cup video games as Pele, he can edge away from the Brazilian legend with a aim in North America.

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5

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

13 targets

Lionel Messi lastly acquired his palms on the World Cup on the fifth time of asking in 2022, scoring seven targets within the course of.

Whereas three of the 5 tournaments he has performed have seen him rating not more than as soon as, Messi scored 4 in 2014 as his nation reached the ultimate, earlier than virtually single-handedly dragging Argentina over the ending line in Qatar.

Whether or not he’ll make it to 2026 stays to be seen, however he’ll want one other aim to edge forward of Simply Fontaine in these rankings, having performed in 20 extra World Cup clashes.

4

Simply Fontaine (France)

13 targets

Simply Fontaine might have performed in a solitary World Cup, however his exploits in entrance of aim in Sweden are legendary.

The centre-forward netted 13 targets – essentially the most in any single version of the match – in simply six matches. He scored in each one and recorded two hat-tricks within the course of as France completed third, dropping to Brazil within the semi-finals.

Absolutely this can be a complete which gained’t be overwhelmed, regardless of the rise within the variety of video games from 2026 onwards.

3

Gerd Müller (West Germany)

14 targets

Gerd Müller will go down as one of many best strikers within the historical past of the sport, and is at the moment ranked third for targets scored on the World Cup.

Muller netted ten on his debut in 1970, together with hat-tricks in opposition to Bulgaria and Peru whereas scoring within the win over England within the quarter-finals.

4 years later, Muller netted the winner in opposition to the Netherlands within the remaining, which noticed West Germany seize their second World Cup trophy.

2

Ronaldo (Brazil)

15 targets

Ronaldo was a part of Brazil’s victorious 1994 squad, however he didn’t make an look. In 1998, he scored 4 after rising as one of the best ahead on the earth, but he appeared a shadow of himself within the remaining after struggling a seizure beforehand.

Redemption was secured 4 years later as his eight targets fired Brazil to the title, even netting twice within the remaining.

In opposition to Ghana within the second spherical in 2006, Ronaldo scored along with his trademark transfer of rounding the goalkeeper, scoring his fifteenth World Cup aim and going one away from Muller with 15 to set a brand new all-time report.

1

Miroslav Klose (Germany)

16 targets

Miroslav Klose introduced himself to the world in 2002, netting 5 instances as Germany reached the ultimate earlier than repeating the trick 4 years afterward house soil, though they might solely end third.

4 targets had been scored on the 2010 match, together with efforts in opposition to England and Argentina as Germany completed third for the second consecutive match.

2014 was to be his remaining World Cup, and it noticed Klose lastly get his palms on a winners’ medal in Brazil. Klose additionally scored his sixteenth and remaining World Cup aim, placing him one away from Ronaldo.