Since its inception the FIFA World Cup has maintained its position as the top footballing event where history contains many notable goal-scoring achievements. Few elite football players across World Cup history have written their names in record books due to their regular net-shooting abilities. These football legends created unforgettably brilliant sequences as strikers while making history as playmaking talents in the largest competition in the world. The article begins by exploring the highest goal scorers from the World Cup championship through ranking Argentina's Lionel Messi as the first followed by others.
5. Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 13 goals in 26 matches
When the FIFA World Cup 2022 started in Qatar Lionel Messi entered the game with just six goals through nineteen matches making his rank quite low. A motivational campaign propelled the Argentine to score seven goals during seven games for his team's successful championship run. His ascent in the rankings occurred rapidly because of this.
Lionel Messi carried his only six goals from Qatar 2022 up until the group stage matches before the tournament began. The World Cup knockout stage became his domain when Messi scored a goal in each game and set a historic achievement by becoming the first player to accomplish this feat. Messi scored two out of his final tournament seven goals during the decisive match against France at Qatar 2022.
4. Just Fontaine (France) - 13 goals in six matches
French striker Just Fontaine secured his spot on the distinguished list by participating in only one FIFA World Cup tournament that took place in Sweden during 1958.
Through six World Cup matches France played Fontaine scored goals every time and he achieved three goals against Paraguay while notching four goals in his last World Cup appearance against Germany.
Just Fontaine scored one of the two goals that France managed during their 5-2 semi-final loss to Brazil before Brazil secured their World Cup victory in 1958.
At age 28 Just Fontaine retired from football because of injuries which prevented him from competing in future World Cups.
With 13 goals scored in 1958 his goal total remains the highest ever achieved by a player during a FIFA World Cup tournament.
3. Gerd Muller (Germany) - 14 goals in 13 matches
Gerd Muller scored his 14 FIFA World Cup goals in only 13 matches during two World Cup tournaments.
During the 1970 World Cup tournament he scored his ten goals with two hat-tricks while playing against Hungary followed by Peru during the group stage matches. Muller received the top scorer award during the World Cup although Germany lost in the last four to Italy after Muller scored twice during their match.
During the 1974 FIFA World Cup hosted in Germany became the champion alongside winning the most goals for his team with a total of four while scoring an essential goal that gave Germany their 2-1 victory against the Netherlands to claim the trophy.
Throughout every FIFA World Cup tournament Gerd Muller scored his entire 14 goals inside the penalty area. The penalty area produced fifty percent of the seventeen goals Gerd Muller scored in the World Cup matches.
2. Ronaldo (Brazil) - 15 goals in 19 matches
Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima who goes by Ronaldo made 15 goals across 19 matches in FIFA World Cup history to gain his place as the second highest goal scorer.
Since 1994 Ronaldo joined the Brazil national team until he played in the World Cup at the United States and Mexico. Brazil's front attack duo Romario and Bebeto kept the teenage Ronaldo out of all matches during the tournament.
During the 1998 World Cup in France Ronaldo showcased his remarkable talent in front of fans who now recognize him as a legendary striker.
The four French competition goals scored by Ronaldo proved essential for Brazil's place in the final match but the striker contracted fever during their championship encounter in France which resulted in their defeat.
The sturdy striker Ronaldo took control at the 2002 tournament which was held in Japan and South Korea to achieve Brazil's championship victory while winning the Golden Boot competition with his eight goals.
Ronaldo entered the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany as his professional playing days were deteriorating due to persistent health problems and injuries. Despite losing to the German hosts in the quarter-finals Brazil received three goals from Ronaldo in that tournament. He reached the required number of goals to surpass German icon Gerd Muller who had been at the top since 1974.
1. Miroslav Klose (Germany) - 16 goals in 24 matches
Throughout four World Cups spanning from 2002 to 2014 Miroslav Klose of Germany secured his place as the player who scored the most World Cup goals (16) from 24 matches.
What distinguished Klose from others on the list was his remarkable consistency throughout each World Cup tournament combined with his long career that allowed him to compete in four different contests. He appeared in his last World Cup as a 36-year-old athlete at Brazil 2014.
On the first match of the 2002 World Cup Miroslav Klose netted three goals which guided Germany to an 8-0 victory against Saudi Arabia at the Sapporo Dome in Japan. During his first World Cup appearance Klose managed to score five goals while the top scorer Ronaldo got three more and Germany took second place to Brazil in the final.
The 2006 FIFA World Cup at Germany resulted in a Golden Boot award for Miroslav Klose after he scored five goals against other players. Germany, however, only finished third.
Germans finished in third position during the 2010 World Cup while Klose scored four times to share the position with three other top scorers from that tournament. The perfect concluding milestone for this top striker arrived when he scored two goals as Germany secured the FIFA World Cup title at Brazil 2014.
In the semifinal match against Brazil Miroslav Klose scored his record-breaking World Cup goal which secured his place in history as the highest scorer in international championship history. The match goal scored by Miroslav Klose surpassed the record previously held by Brazil forward Ronaldo.