Lionel Messi becomes World Cup all‑time leading scorer as tournament progresses

Lionel Messi has reached 18 World Cup goals, overtaking Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16 and becoming the competition's all‑time top scorer. In the 2026 tournament he has added five goals, helping Argentina advance to the knockout stage.

France's Kylian Mbappé is close behind, with a career total of 16 World Cup goals after scoring four in the current competition. The goal‑scoring race remains open as both players continue to add to their tallies.

Historical context notes that Cameroon’s Roger Milla remains the oldest player to score at a World Cup, netting a goal at 42 years and 39 days in 1994, a record that still stands.