The 2026 FIFA World Cup is well underway, and the two defining superstars of modern football have already completely rewritten the record books in their opening fixtures. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé continue to trade blows on the grandest stage of all, cementing historic milestones for both club and country.


Lionel Messi: The Undisputed World Cup King

Just two days shy of his 39th birthday, Lionel Messi climbed to the absolute summit of World Cup history during Argentina's group stage match against Austria. After matching the previous record with a spectacular opening-match hat-trick against Algeria, Messi stands alone as the greatest goalscorer the men's tournament has ever seen.







  • All-Time Men's World Cup Top Scorer: With his 38th-minute strike against Austria, Messi recorded his 17th career World Cup goal, officially surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16 goals).
  • The Scoring Streak: The goal marked the sixth consecutive World Cup game in which Messi has found the back of the net, carrying his blistering form from Argentina's 2022 championship run right into 2026.
  • Argentina's Ultimate Icon: The milestone pads his legendary resume as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 122 international goals, alongside holding the record for the most World Cup appearances at 27 matches.


Kylian Mbappé: The Record-Breaker at 27

While Messi cements his lifetime legacy, France captain Kylian Mbappé is hunting down records at an unprecedented pace. In France's explosive 3-1 tournament-opening victory against Senegal, the 27-year-old talisman turned a difficult first half into a historic masterclass.







  • France's All-Time Top Scorer: Mbappé scored twice against Senegal. His second goal—a spectacular 30-yard screamer—was his 58th international goal, officially surpassing Olivier Giroud (57) to become France's all-time leading scorer.
  • Passing French Legends & Pelé: His brace took him to 14 career World Cup goals, moving past the legendary Just Fontaine (13) as France's top scorer in tournament history. The feat also pushed him past Brazilian icon Pelé on the all-time World Cup scoring charts.
  • Chasing Klose and Messi: With 14 goals in just 15 career World Cup matches, Mbappé is now tied with Gerd Müller for fourth on the all-time list, sitting just two goals shy of Klose and three away from Messi's brand-new record.
  • Centurion Status Awaits: Mbappé is set to earn his 100th international cap for Les Bleus in France's upcoming match against Iraq.


The All-Time Men's World Cup Goalscoring Leaderboard







  1. Lionel Messi Argentina 18 Active (2026)
  2. Kylian Mbappé France 16 Active (2026)
  3. Miroslav Klose Germany 16 Retired
  4. Ronaldo Brazil 15 Retired
  5. Gerd Müller Germany 14 Retired