FULL LIST: Messi Extends Lead as World Cup’s All-Time Highest Goalscorer

• Lionel Messi has further cemented his place in football history after extending his record as the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.

Lionel Messi has further cemented his place in football history after extending his record as the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.

The Argentina captain scored during his country’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the Round of 32 on Friday, taking his overall World Cup tally to 20 goals and widening the gap between himself and the rest of the competition.

The goal sees Messi move two clear of France forward Kylian Mbappé, who sits second on the all-time scoring chart with 18 World Cup goals.

Former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who previously held the all-time record, is now third with 16 goals, while Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazário occupies fourth place with 15 goals.

Germany icon Gerd Müller completes the top five with 14 World Cup goals.

Messi’s latest strike came as Argentina survived a spirited challenge from World Cup debutants Cape Verde, eventually securing a 3-2 extra-time victory to book a place in the Round of 16.

Updated FIFA World Cup All-Time Top Goalscorers

• 20 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
• 18 – Kylian Mbappé (France)
• 16 – Miroslav Klose (Germany)
• 15 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
• 14 – Gerd Müller (Germany)
• 13 – Just Fontaine (France), Harry Kane (England)
• 12 – Pelé (Brazil)
• 11 – Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany), Sándor Kocsis (Hungary), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
• 10 – Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina), Helmut Rahn (Germany), Gary Lineker (England), Teófilo Cubillas (Peru), Thomas Müller (Germany), Grzegorz Lato (Poland)

With Argentina still in the tournament and set to face Egypt in the Round of 16, Messi has another opportunity to add to his record and further strengthen his position as the FIFA World Cup’s greatest goalscorer.