The greatest strikers in FIFA World Cup history

Here, we list some of the greatest goal scorers in tournament history, from record breakers to iconic match-winners.

Miroslav Klose - 16 goals, 24 matches

Its impossible to exclude the top all-time World Cup goal scorer from this list. Granted, it was the German's incredible longevity that arguably contributes the most to his longstanding record, but nevertheless, Klose was a powerhouse in his day.

He announced himself at the 2002 World Cup with five goals, including a hat-trick against Saudi Arabia, helping Germany reach the final.

Four years later, Klose has his strongest individual year. He scored 25 Bundesliga goals for Werder Bremen, finished as the league's top scorer, was named Germany's Footballer of the Year, and then won the 2006 World Cup Golden Boot with five goals for good measure.

Klose remained lethal at the 2010 edition, adding four goals to his tally and helping Germany reach another semifinal. Finally, despite being past his peak at the 2014 World Cup, he still scored twice to break Ronaldo's World Cup scoring record and finish his international career as a world champion.

Kylian Mbappe - 12 goals, 14 matches

What this Frenchman has achieved in his relatively short career is exceptional. More to the point, Mbappe has performed on the biggest stage from a young age.

A 19-year-old Mbappe arrived at the 2018 World Cup and netted three goals on France's way to the final against Croatia. There, he became the first teenager since the legendary Pele to score in a World Cup final.

In 2022, Mbappe arrived with swagger and backed it up with another superlative tournament. Defences had no answer to his blistering speed and power as he scored eight goals on his way to winning the coveted Golden Boot. His three goals in the final alone saw him almost drag his country over the line singlehandedly, but it wasn't to be. Which brings us to...

Lionel Messi - 13 goals, 26 matches

Sorry Mbappe, 2022 was Messi's time in the sun. The little maestro led from the front, scoring a goal in every match all the way through to that incredible final against France, where he added two more to help his beloved Argentina lift the trophy.

It was a fairytale result for Messi, who had won seemingly everything but failed in his national colours. And Argentina's patchy World Cup record is arguably the reason he hasn't scored more goals. A round of 16 exit in 2018, and two quarterfinal departures in 2006 and 2010 restricted his opportunities.

Messi did net four in 2014, though, including a long-range stunner against Nigeria. Now leading Argentina in his sixth World Cup, the, ahem, eight-time Ballon d'Or winner needs three goals to beat Klose's 12-year-old record.  

Just Fontaine - 13 goals, 6 matches

You've probably never heard of him, but his record speaks for itself. Fontaine holds the record for the most goals scored in a World Cup, one that will be nigh impossible to break. The stocky Frenchman netted 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

The striker bagged six goals in the group stages, two in the quarterfinals, one in France's 5-2 loss to Brazil in the semifinals and four in the third-place playoff for a baker's dozen that will take some beating.

Pele - 12 goals, 14 matches

The legendary Brazilian actually played against the aforementioned Fontaine in that 1958 World Cup semifinal. The 17-year-old was superb, netting a hat-trick to thrust his team into the final, where he scored a brace on the way to becoming a world champion. Pele's first goal, where he flicked the ball over the defender and volleyed it into the top corner, was selected as one of the best goals in the history of the World Cup

Pele scored once in the group stages of the 1962 edition, becoming the first player to score in three successive World Cups, but an injury saw him have limited involvement in the rest of the tournament. Brazil still claimed the title.

Given his prolific scoring, Pele was repeatedly targeted by defences in 1966, often illegally so, which led to more injuries. Pele threatened to never play another World Cup.

But he returned in 1970 and delivered a complete performance on his way to another title. Through assists and his four strikes, Pele was responsible for over half of Brazil's goals at the tournament, earning him the Golden Ball accolade as player of the World Cup.