Top 5 World Cup Goal Scorers: Messi Joins Klose After Historic Hat-Trick

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Lionel Messi entered the history books after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The three goals brought Messi’s World Cup tally to 16 goals, putting him level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history.

After sealing the game with a left-footed strike, Messi scored two additional goals in the second half to complete the decisive hattrick. Tournament onlookers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium gave the Argentina captain a standing ovation for his historic moment.

Messi’s achievement placed him among the greatest goalscorers in World Cup history. Here are the five players with the most World Cup goals, according to latest FIFA records.

1. Miroslav Klose (Germany) — 16 Goals

Miroslav Klose remains one of the most successful World Cup strikers of all time. The German forward scored 16 goals across four World Cup tournaments between 2002 and 2014.

Klose broke Ronaldo Nazário’s previous record during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he helped Germany win the title. His most memorable moment came in the semifinal against Brazil, when he scored his record-breaking goal in Germany’s historic 7-1 victory.

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina) — 16 Goals

Messi joined Klose at the top of the World Cup scoring chart after his hat-trick against Algeria.

The Argentina captain has scored in five different World Cup editions and became the first player to appear in six tournaments. At 38, Messi also became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in World Cup history.

The achievement made Messi just the second player in history to score at five different editions of the World Cup, further cementing his place among football’s all-time greats.

The football superstar will have another opportunity to add to his record-breaking legacy when Argentina returns to action against Austria on June 22.

3. Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil) — 15 Goals

Brazil icon Ronaldo Nazário, widely known as “The Phenomenon,” scored 15 World Cup goals during his career.

He was the leading scorer in the 2002 World Cup, netting eight goals as Brazil lifted the trophy. Ronaldo’s record stood as the tournament’s best scoring mark before being surpassed by Klose.

4. Gerd Müller (Germany) — 14 Goals

Gerd Müller was one of Germany’s most prolific strikers and scored 14 goals in World Cup history.

Despite appearing in only two tournaments, Müller played a key role in Germany’s 1974 World Cup triumph, scoring the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands.

5. Kylian Mbappé (France) — 14 Goals

Kylian Mbappé has emerged as one of the most dangerous World Cup scorers of the modern era.

The French forward scored four goals during France’s 2018 title-winning campaign and added eight more in 2022, including a hat-trick in the final against Argentina.

At his age, Mbappé still has the opportunity to break the all-time scoring record in future World Cup tournaments.

Messi’s latest milestone against Algeria has placed him alongside Klose at the top of the list, adding another chapter to one of the greatest careers in football history.

To stay up to date with every fixture, kickoff time, and key matchup, be sure to check out the full schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Read: World Cup 2026: Messi Hat-Trick Powers Argentina to 3-0 Win Over Algeria

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