Lionel Messi vs. Kylian Mbappe goals record tracker: Updated 2026 World Cup totals in race for most all time

Lionel Messi vs. Kylian Mbappe goals record tracker: Updated 2026 World Cup totals in race for most all time originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are continuing to add to their World Cup legacies at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Both players have already found the net during this year's tournament as they look to climb higher on the competition's all-time scoring charts. Each goal could prove significant in the race for World Cup history.

The Sporting News is tracking the latest standings, including the leading scorers at the 2026 World Cup, the all-time goals rankings and where Messi and Mbappe stand among the tournament's greatest goalscorers.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets

Stats updated after matches on June 22.

Messi moved into a share of the lead in the Golden Boot race with four goals through Argentina's opening group-stage matches, while Mbappe remains in contention after opening his account for France.

Messi's strong start to the 2026 World Cup has seen him move clear at the top of the all-time standings, while Mbappe continues to close the gap on the players above him. The France star is the only active player other than Messi among the competition's leading goalscorers.

How many World Cup goals does Lionel Messi have?

Messi has scored 18 goals at the FIFA World Cup, the most by any player in the tournament's history.

The Argentina captain broke Miroslav Klose's long-standing record during the 2026 World Cup, continuing a scoring journey that began with his first tournament goal against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. His most prolific campaign came in 2022, when he scored seven times to help Argentina lift the trophy in Qatar.

Messi's record tally has come across six World Cup appearances and 28 matches.

How many World Cup goals does Kylian Mbappe have?

Mbappe has scored 14 goals at the FIFA World Cup, tying Gerd Muller for fourth on the tournament's all-time scoring list.

The France star has reached that total across three World Cup appearances and remains the youngest player among the competition's top scorers.

World Cup goals record for one year

Just Fontaine's haul of 13 goals for France at the 1958 World Cup remains the benchmark for a single tournament.

Fontaine's tally of 13 goals in 1958 remains one of the most enduring records in World Cup history. Mbappe's eight-goal haul in 2022 is the closest either he or Messi has come to matching the mark, with the Argentina captain scoring seven during his country's victorious campaign in Qatar.

Both players have added to their totals in 2026, but Fontaine's record remains comfortably intact.

Who will win the World Cup in 2026?

Explaining the expanded World Cup bracket

Full list of teams to qualify for 2026 World Cup