Goal takes a look at the most prolific goalscorers in the history of the World Cup
Miroslav Klose is the all-time top goalscorer in the World Cup’s history with 16 goals to his name in 24 matches.
The German forward made his World Cup debut in 2002 and went on to represent his country until the 2014 Brazil World Cup, winning the Golden Boot in 2006 in the process.
Before Klose, Brazil’s legendary striker Ronaldo was at the top of the charts with 15 goals in 19 matches, spread out over four World Cups.
The iconic attacker won the Golden Boot in 2002, scoring eight times as Brazil emerged victorious.
Klose surpassed Ronaldo in the 2014 World Cup semi-final against Brazil in Germany’s 7-1 win over the hosts.
Ronaldo is followed by another Germany legend in Gerd Muller, who scored 14 goals in just two editions of the tournament (1970 and 1974).
He along with Just Fontaine and Sandor Kocsis are the only players to have scored 10 or more World Cup goals in just one edition of the competition.
Brazil great Pele is the fifth-highest goalscorer of all time in the World Cup, scoring 12 goals in four editions, but surprisingly never winning the Golden Boot.
Germany and Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller is the only still active player to have netted 10 or more goals in the World Cup.
Muller has played in three editions so far, but has managed to score in only two of them.
World Cup all-time top goal scorers
Pos
Player
Team
Goals
Matches
1
Miroslav Klose
Germany
16
24
2
Ronaldo
Brazil
15
19
3
Gerd Muller
West Germany
14
13
4
Just Fontaine
France
13
6
5
Pele
Brazil
12
14
=6
Sandor Kocsis
Hungary
11
5
=6
Jurgen Klinsmann
West Germany
11
17
=8
Helmut Rahn
West Germany
10
10
=8
Gary Lineker
England
10
12
=8
Gabriel Batistuta
Argentina
10
12
=8
Teofilo Cubillas
Peru
10
13
=8
Thomas Muller
Germany
10
16
=8
Grzegorz Lato
Poland
10
20
