The 2026 FIFA World Cup has become a thrilling arena for a captivating statistical contest. Following the latest matchdays, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé continue to find the back of the net, solidifying their historic rivalry at the top of the competition’s all-time scoring leaderboard.
Messi Reigns Supreme in Football History
In a recent match against Austria, the captain of the Argentina national team achieved an extraordinary feat by netting 18 goals over six World Cup tournaments. This impressive total surpasses the previous record held by Miroslav Klose of Germany, who scored 16 goals, making Messi the all-time top scorer.
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Mbappé’s Explosive Goal Scoring
On the other hand, France forward Kylian Mbappé is hot on his heels. Following remarkable performances against Senegal and Iraq, Mbappé has matched Klose’s total with 16 World Cup goals, boasting an impressive scoring rate of one goal per game (16 goals in 16 matches).
At just 27 years old, the French sensation is only two goals shy of Messi’s record, with the potential to overtake it in this tournament.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.