Following their resounding victory over Armenia, Portugal secured their place within the 2026 World Cup. This event is extremely anticipated, as each Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will seemingly be taking part in of their closing World Cup. Notably, the Argentine star has a transparent benefit over the Portuguese icon within the pursuit of breaking a historic World Cup document, which might additional improve his already spectacular legacy with the nationwide crew.
All through his participation in World Cup historical past, Lionel Messi has turn out to be one of the vital spectacular gamers, scoring 13 targets in 26 video games within the event. This achievement places him simply 4 targets away from surpassing the present all-time main scorer, Miroslav Klose, who has 16 targets. After scoring seven targets within the 2022 version, the Argentine is the clear favourite to interrupt this document if he maintains his scoring tempo.
In contrast to the Argentine, Cristiano Ronaldo has not managed to shine significantly brightly within the World Cup. In 22 video games, the Portuguese participant has scored solely eight targets. Subsequently, the veteran would want to attain 9 targets within the 2026 version to surpass Klose as the highest scorer within the historical past of the event. Whereas his scoring prowess validates this ambition, it will require him to attain extra targets than he has scored in 5 editions inside a single event.
Not Cristiano: Messi faces a shocking competitor within the World Cup document
Though Cristiano Ronaldo is among the many biggest gamers in soccer historical past, the Portuguese star doesn’t rank among the many high 10 scorers in World Cup historical past. As issues stand, Lionel Messi seems to be the main contender to turn out to be the event’s all-time high scorer. Nonetheless, the Argentine star faces an sudden challenger who might doubtlessly thwart his probability to interrupt this document in 2026.
Kylian Mbappe of France battles for possession with Lionel Messi of Argentina.
Kylian Mbappe, at simply 26 years previous, is positioned as Messi’s closest competitor for the all-time high scorer in World Cup historical past. In simply 14 video games within the historical past of the event, he has scored 12 targets. Because of his spectacular kind and youth, the Frenchman might simply break this document. Even when the Argentine manages to interrupt this document in 2026, Mbappe might surpass him within the 2030 version.
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Which is the present high 10 highest scorers in World Cup historical past?
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are set to battle for the title of all-time high scorer in World Cup historical past by 2026. The highest 10 record, nonetheless, is stuffed with surprises, together with the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. As we strategy a time when this rating might shift, Germany’s Miroslav Klose stays the undisputed chief, with formidable competitors finishing the record.
| Title | Nation | Objectives | |
| 1. | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 |
| 2. | Ronaldo Nazario | Brazil | 15 |
| 3. | Gerd Muller | Germany | 14 |
| 4. | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 13 |
| 5. | Simply Fontaine | France | 13 |
| 6. | Kylian Mbappe | France | 12 |
| 7. | Pele | Brazil | 12 |
| 8. | Jurgen Klinsmann | Germany | 11 |
| 9. | Sandor Kocsis | Hungary | 11 |
| 10. | Gabriel Batistuta | Argentina | 10 |



