Kylian Mbappe tops 21st-century World Cup scorers list

French forward Kylian Mbappe has secured the top spot on the list of highest-scoring players in World Cup tournaments during the 21st century. The statistician platform PopFoot compiled data showing Mbappe netted 22 goals across his appearances in the competition, placing him ahead of Argentine star Lionel Messi, who sits second with a tally of 21 goals.

Mbappe’s perfect scoring ratio

Mbappe’s record stands out for its efficiency, as he achieved his 22 goals in just 22 matches. This performance yields a strike rate of exactly one goal per game, a figure that highlights his prolific impact whenever he features in the global tournament.

In contrast, Messi required 34 matches to reach his total of 21 goals. The Argentine’s average sits at 0.62 goals per match, reflecting a different trajectory through multiple World Cup campaigns compared to Mbappe’s concentrated output.

Close contenders in the rankings

German legend Miroslav Klose occupies the third position on the leaderboard. He scored 16 goals over the course of 24 games, resulting in an average of 0.67 goals per match. English striker Harry Kane follows closely in fourth place, having found the net 14 times in 18 appearances, which translates to a rate of 0.78 goals per game.

Cristiano Ronaldo ranks fifth among the 21st-century scorers. The Portuguese captain accumulated 11 goals across 27 matches, averaging 0.41 goals per game. Thomas Müller of Germany places sixth with 10 goals from 19 matches, maintaining an average of 0.53 goals per appearance.

Mid-table stars and emerging talents

Spain’s David Villa holds the seventh spot after scoring nine goals in 12 matches, achieving a strong average of 0.75 goals per game. Brazilian forward Neymar shares this rank with the same goal count of nine, though he required 15 matches to do so, resulting in an average of 0.60 goals per game.

Jude Bellingham of England appears in the list with eight goals from 13 matches, matching Messi’s average of 0.62 goals per game. Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku also recorded eight goals but needed 18 matches, giving him a lower average of 0.44 goals per game.

High-impact finishers

Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland and Uruguayan veteran Luis Suarez round out the top ten. Both players finished with seven goals each. However, their efficiency differs significantly: Haaland achieved his total in only five matches, boasting a remarkable average of 1.40 goals per game. Suarez reached the same number of goals over 16 matches, averaging 0.44 goals per game.

• Kylian Mbappe: 22 goals, 22 matches (1.00 avg)
• Lionel Messi: 21 goals, 34 matches (0.62 avg)
• Miroslav Klose: 16 goals, 24 matches (0.67 avg)
• Harry Kane: 14 goals, 18 matches (0.78 avg)
• Cristiano Ronaldo: 11 goals, 27 matches (0.41 avg)
• Thomas Müller: 10 goals, 19 matches (0.53 avg)
• David Villa: 9 goals, 12 matches (0.75 avg)
• Neymar: 9 goals, 15 matches (0.60 avg)
• Jude Bellingham: 8 goals, 13 matches (0.62 avg)
• Romelu Lukaku: 8 goals, 18 matches (0.44 avg)
• Erling Haaland: 7 goals, 5 matches (1.40 avg)
• Luis Suarez: 7 goals, 16 matches (0.44 avg)