A record that stood for twelve years has recently been eclipsed, though the title for the most goals in a World Cup career remains in flux. The race for this prestigious achievement has transformed into a high-stakes duel between the man who established the new benchmark last week and his closest contender.
Argentinian star Lionel Messi, now 39, has reached his sixth and widely anticipated final World Cup. He has already netted five goals during this tournament, including a hat trick in his debut match, which pushed him past the previous 2014 record of 16 goals set by Miroslav Klose. Trailing him closely is France’s Kylian Mbappé, who has also reached 16 total World Cup goals, four of which were scored within his first two tournament games. Both players entered this event in a tight race, with Messi having 13 prior World Cup goals and Mbappé having 12. While Messi has benefited from more opportunities across six World Cup appearances, Mbappé is currently participating in his third.
The ultimate holder of the scoring record may depend on how far each athlete’s team progresses. Both Argentina and France are top contenders for the title, with sportsbooks currently positioning France as the favorite, closely followed by Argentina. In their previous head-to-head meeting during the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, Argentina secured the trophy, though Mbappé recorded a historic hat trick—only the second occurrence of this feat in tournament history.
Throughout his extensive career, Messi has competed in six World Cups and earned the Ballon d’Or award eight times. Meanwhile, 27-year-old Mbappé recently surpassed Olivier Giroud’s record of 58 goals to become the French national team’s all-time leading scorer, following two goals in a 3-1 victory against Senegal on June 16.
Statistical performance varies between the two stars. Across 28 World Cup appearances, Messi averages two goals every three games, whereas Mbappé maintains a rate of roughly one goal per game over 17 matches. Mbappé holds the record for the most goals in a World Cup final with four, but Messi demonstrates a higher assist rate. Messi contributes an assist roughly once every four games, compared to Mbappé’s average of one assist every eight matches.
Despite the frequent comparisons, Mbappé maintains high regard for his rival. When questioned by reporters on Sunday about who ranks as the best among current stars like Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland, Mbappé answered definitively: “Lionel Messi. It’s clear.”
