The 17 Greatest World Cup Goalscorers of All Time

From Golden Boot legends of black-and-white finals to today's headline strikers, this lineup spans nearly a century of clutch finishing on football's biggest stage. Who tops your list?

1. 1
   Lionel Messi

   Argentine icon who became World Cup football's all-time top scorer with goals across six tournaments.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Paolo Rossi

   Italian striker whose hat-trick against Brazil sparked Italy's 1982 World Cup triumph.
   728pts
3. 3
   Pelé

   Brazilian legend who scored 12 World Cup goals across four tournaments including two titles.
   710pts
4. 4
   Sándor Kocsis

   Hungarian striker nicknamed 'Golden Head' who scored 11 goals at the 1954 World Cup alone.
   560pts
5. 5
   Teófilo Cubillas

   Peruvian playmaker whose dazzling long-range strikes made him a two-tournament World Cup star.
   560pts
6. 6
   Miroslav Klose

   German forward who scored 16 World Cup goals, the previous all-time record holder.
   560pts
7. 7
   Thomas Müller

   German forward whose knack for big moments produced 10 goals across four World Cups.
   485pts
8. 8
   Grzegorz Lato

   Polish winger who won the Golden Boot with 7 goals at the 1974 World Cup.
   485pts
9. 9
   Neymar

   Brazilian forward and one of his generation's most decorated World Cup goalscorers.
   485pts
10. 10
    Ronaldo Nazário

    Brazilian striker whose 15 World Cup goals between 1998 and 2006 stood as the record for years.
    397pts
11. 11
    Gabriel Batistuta

    Argentine striker famed for his ferocious shot and 10 World Cup goals in the 1990s.
    397pts
12. 12
    Harry Kane

    England captain who has become one of the most prolific scorers in World Cup history.
    291pts
13. 13
    Just Fontaine

    French forward who set a single-tournament record with 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup.
    162pts
14. 14
    Cristiano Ronaldo

    Portuguese star and the only player to score in five different World Cups.
    162pts
15. 15
    Jürgen Klinsmann

    German forward whose diving celebrations and clinical finishing produced 11 World Cup goals.
    162pts
16. 16
    Eusébio

    Portuguese legend who top-scored the 1966 World Cup and dragged Portugal to the semifinals.
    162pts
17. 17
    Gerd Müller

    West German striker who netted 14 World Cup goals including the 1974 final winner.
    162pts