Football records are funny things. Most of them are meant to be broken, but some feel like they're encased in bulletproof glass. When you ask who has the most goals in the World Cup, the answer isn't a name like Pelé or Maradona, which usually catches casual fans off guard.
It's Miroslav Klose.
Yeah, the German poacher who just seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. He finished his career with 16 goals across four tournaments. It’s a staggering number. But as we look toward the 2026 World Cup in North America, that "bulletproof" record is starting to look a little bit fragile. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, more games mean more chances for the modern monsters of the game to start hacking away at Klose’s pedestal.
The King of Consistency: Miroslav Klose
Klose wasn't necessarily the flashiest player on the pitch. He didn't have the step-overs of Ronaldo or the gravity-defying dribbles of Messi. What he had was a telescopic sense for where the ball would land.
Between 2002 and 2014, Klose played in 24 World Cup matches. He scored five in his debut tournament (including a hat-trick against Saudi Arabia), five more in 2006 to take the Golden Boot, four in 2010, and two final, crucial goals in 2014. The record-breaking 16th goal was pure poetry—or pure cruelty, depending on who you ask. It happened during that infamous 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the semi-finals. He literally took the record from a Brazilian legend, Ronaldo, while playing in Brazil.
Talk about an awkward dinner party.
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The "Fenômeno" and the "Bomber"
Before Klose, the crown belonged to Ronaldo Nazário. The original Ronaldo. He put up 15 goals and did it with a flair that Klose never quite matched. His 2002 comeback story—returning from career-threatening knee injuries to score eight goals and lead Brazil to the trophy—is basically the gold standard for sports redemption arcs.
Then you've got Gerd Müller. "Der Bomber."
He held the record for 32 years with 14 goals.
What’s wild about Müller is the efficiency. He didn't need four tournaments. He got ten goals in 1970 alone and then bagged the winner in the 1974 final. He was basically a goal-scoring machine disguised as a human being.
The All-Time Leaderboard (As of 2026)
- Miroslav Klose (Germany): 16 goals in 24 matches.
- Ronaldo (Brazil): 15 goals in 19 matches.
- Gerd Müller (West Germany): 14 goals in 13 matches.
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): 13 goals in 26 matches.
- Just Fontaine (France): 13 goals in 6 matches.
- Kylian Mbappé (France): 12 goals in 14 matches.
- Pelé (Brazil): 12 goals in 14 matches.
The Just Fontaine Anomaly
We have to talk about Just Fontaine because his record is arguably the most untouchable of them all. In 1958, this Frenchman decided to score 13 goals in a single tournament.
One tournament. Six games.
He had to borrow a pair of boots from a teammate because his own had fallen apart. Can you imagine? Scoring double-digit goals in the most prestigious tournament on Earth using someone else’s shoes. Since then, the closest anyone has ever come to that single-tournament tally was Gerd Müller with ten in 1970. In the modern era, you're lucky if the Golden Boot winner gets six or seven.
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Fontaine’s 13 is the mountain no one can climb.
The 2026 Threat: Messi and Mbappé
Now, this is where it gets spicy.
Lionel Messi currently sits on 13 goals. He’s 38 now, heading into the 2026 tournament. If he plays—and all signs point to him at least being on the plane—he only needs three goals to tie Klose. Given how Argentina plays for him, and the fact that they'll be facing more "minnow" teams in the new 48-team format, three goals feels like a Tuesday afternoon for Leo.
But the real threat? Kylian Mbappé.
The guy is only 27 and already has 12 goals. Read that again. Twelve.
He’s played in two World Cups and reached the final in both. He scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final and still lost! Mbappé isn't just chasing Klose; he’s chasing history. If he stays healthy, he could realistically pass Klose in 2026 and then spend the next two World Cups setting a record that might actually stand for a century.
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Klose himself recently told Sport Bild that he's made his peace with it. He knows the record is "inevitable" given the expansion of the tournament.
Why these stats matter for 2026
The shift to a 48-team tournament changes the math for who has the most goals in the World Cup. Purists hate it because it might "dilute" the quality, but for strikers, it's a buffet. More group stage matches against lower-ranked nations mean the opportunity to stat-pad is higher than it’s been since the 1950s.
If you're watching the 2026 World Cup, keep a close eye on the "16" mark. We are officially in the era where the legends of the 20th century are being overtaken by the physical specimens of the 21st.
What to watch for next:
- Monitor the fitness of Kylian Mbappé: His pace is his greatest weapon, and any lingering hamstring issues could slow his ascent to the top.
- Check the group stage draws: The moment the 2026 groups are announced, look for the "Group of Life" where a top-tier striker faces two debutant nations. That’s where the record will likely fall.
- Follow the assist leaders: Goals don't happen in a vacuum. Messi’s move to Inter Miami has changed his game to be more of a playmaker, but in a blue and white shirt, he’s still the primary finisher.
The race for the all-time scoring title is the most exciting sub-plot of the next four years. Klose had a great run, but the throne is currently up for grabs.