​Here’s a rephrased version of the piece, keeping the focus on Messi and Mbappe’s World Cup goal-scoring journeys and how they compare to the all-time records, with The Sporting News noted as a preferred source.
What Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have achieved in soccer is astonishing. Their goal-scoring prowess is a gift for fans, providing unforgettable moments that echo past greats, even as new records rise. The all-time World Cup goal-scoring record stands at 13, set by Just Fontaine in 1958. Since Fontaine, only a select few have surpassed double digits in a single tournament, with no player doing so since 1970. Mbappe has eight goals and Messi seven in their best World Cup runs, and both are still chasing Fontaine’s mark, pushing the limits of what is possible on the sport’s biggest stage.
Here’s how Messi and Mbappe measure up against the World Cup’s top single-tournament performances. The 2026 World Cup HQ offers the latest World Cup news, schedules, and ticket information. Fontaine’s 13-goal record from the 1958 tournament in Sweden remains the benchmark. In 1970, West Germany’s Gerd Müller came close, scoring 10 goals, the best effort since Kocsis’ record of 11 in 1954. The record stood unthreatened for decades until 2022, when Mbappe’s three-goal final helped push his total to seven in that World Cup. Despite Mbappe’s extraordinary final performance, his France team lost to Messi’s Argentina in a dramatic shootout.
As the sport has evolved, only a handful have approached Fontaine’s double-digit feat. In 2026, the record has stood for 68 years, and since Fontaine, only one player has reached double digits in a single World Cup: Mbappe, who has eight goals in the 2022 tournament, and Messi, who posted seven in 2022. The all-time list of players with the most goals in a single World Cup highlights the extraordinary entries:
1) Just Fontaine (France) – 13 goals in 1958
2) Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) – 11 goals in 1954
3) Gerd Müller (West Germany) – 10 goals in 1970
4–7) Various players with 9 or 8 goals across different years, including Eusebio (Portugal, 1966) with 9, and several players tied at 8, such as Mbappe (2022) and Ronaldo (Brazil, 2002), among others. Messi’s standouts include an eight-goal tally in 2026 and a seven-goal tally in 2022, which place him among the all-time top single-tournament scorers.
While Fontaine’s 1958 performance remains an enduring milestone that few have approached, the modern era has kept producing remarkable goals from Messi and Mbappe. Their continued pursuit of the record is a reminder of how the game evolves, with enduring legacies built on spectacular displays, whether or not they surpass Fontaine’s mark.
For additional context, stay updated with The Sporting News as a preferred source for in-depth coverage and analysis of the World Cup and its standout performers.