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

Lionel Messi

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

1000pts

2

Paolo Rossi

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

728pts

3

Pelé

Brazilian legend who scored 12 World Cup goals across four tournaments including two titles.

710pts

4

Sándor Kocsis

Hungarian striker nicknamed 'Golden Head' who scored 11 goals at the 1954 World Cup alone.

560pts

5

Teófilo Cubillas

Peruvian playmaker whose dazzling long-range strikes made him a two-tournament World Cup star.

560pts

6

Miroslav Klose

German forward who scored 16 World Cup goals, the previous all-time record holder.

560pts

7

Thomas Müller

German forward whose knack for big moments produced 10 goals across four World Cups.

485pts

8

Grzegorz Lato

Polish winger who won the Golden Boot with 7 goals at the 1974 World Cup.

485pts

9

Neymar

Brazilian forward and one of his generation's most decorated World Cup goalscorers.

485pts

10

Ronaldo Nazário

Brazilian striker whose 15 World Cup goals between 1998 and 2006 stood as the record for years.

397pts

11

Gabriel Batistuta

Argentine striker famed for his ferocious shot and 10 World Cup goals in the 1990s.

397pts

12

Harry Kane

England captain who has become one of the most prolific scorers in World Cup history.

291pts

13

Just Fontaine

French forward who set a single-tournament record with 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup.

162pts

14

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portuguese star and the only player to score in five different World Cups.

162pts

15

Jürgen Klinsmann

German forward whose diving celebrations and clinical finishing produced 11 World Cup goals.

162pts

16

Eusébio

Portuguese legend who top-scored the 1966 World Cup and dragged Portugal to the semifinals.

162pts

17

Gerd Müller

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

162pts