Lionel Messi has become the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history during the 2026 tournament in the U.S. and Canada.
This milestone cements the status of the era's top forwards as the defining forces of the global game. The record-breaking performances underscore how elite individual strikers continue to dictate the outcome of football's most prestigious tournament.
Messi reached the historic mark with 18 goals [1]. In doing so, he surpassed previous records held by Brazil's Martha and Germany's Miroslav Klose, an SBS podcast host said.
Recent match days highlighted the dominance of the tournament's leading stars. On June 22, Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland each scored two goals in their respective matches [4].
Mbappé's recent scoring surge has moved him into second place on the all-time list, where he is now tied with Miroslav Klose [3].
The tournament has faced logistical challenges, including weather delays. A CNN reporter said, "We had storms, we had weather delays, and we had Lionel Messi making history; yesterday might have been the most dramatic day of action at this year's World Cup."
The concentrated scoring power of these three players has generated widespread media attention across the host nations. The ability of Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland to deliver match-winning performances on the same day demonstrates a rare convergence of talent at the peak of their powers [4].
“Lionel Messi becomes the highest scorer in FIFA World Cup 2026™”
The shift in the all-time scoring leaderboard signals a changing of the guard in football history. By surpassing Klose and Martha, Messi has established a new benchmark for longevity and efficiency in the World Cup, while Mbappé's ascent to second place suggests the record may be challenged again in the coming years.
