FIFA World Cup Men's Most Goals Scored

The FIFA World Cup is an international soccer event that occurs every four years, and is filled with high-intensity scoring. A total of 32 nations are put in a tournament after going through a rigorous qualifying process to determine which country has the best soccer team. The tournament consists of a group stage followed by four elimination rounds. Read on to learn about some of the teams and players who have scored the most goals in the World Cup.

Most Goals Scored All-Time By Country

Brazil has scored the most goals by a country in the history of the FIFA World Cup with 237. Brazilian forward Ronaldo, who played in the 1998, 2002, and 2006 FIFA World Cups, contributes to that number with 15 goals, the most goals in Brazilian World Cup history. Brazilian forward Pelé, who played in the 1958, 1962, 1966, and 1970 World Cups, also is a main contributor with 12 career goals in the World Cup. Brazil is also the most successful team in FIFA World Cup history, having won 73 games in 109 matchups. 

Germany is a close second with 232 goals, mainly due to the help of Miroslav Klose, Gerd Müller, and Jürgen Klinsmann. The three stars have combined for 41 goals in the World Cup in their respective careers. Argentina, who has scored the third-highest number of goals in the FIFA World Cup, only has one player with double-digit goals in the tournament. That player is Gabriel Batistuta, who played in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 FIFA World Cups, with ten goals. 

Most Goals Scored All-Time By Player Men’s World Cup

Miroslav Klose broke Ronaldo’s record for most goals scored in the FIFA World Cup in 2014 against Brazil in the semi-final. Klose scored five goals in the 2002 tournament, five in 2006, four in 2010, and two in 2014. Fellow German on the list, Gerd Müller, had the feat of scoring double-digit goals in one of the two tournaments he played in. In the 1970 World Cup, Müller scored ten goals. Ronaldo, who is second on this list with 15 goals, came close to that feat for Brazil when he put up eight scores in 2002. The forward scored four goals in 1998 and three in 2006.

Most Goals Scored By Player In Singular Men’s World Cup

The record for most goals scored by a player in a single FIFA World Cup tournament is held by Just Fontaine. On June 28th, 1958, Fontaine broke the record with his 13th goal in six matches for France. Fontaine put up a hat trick in that match. That was the only World Cup Fontaine scored in, as he sits fourth all-time in goals scored overall in the tournament. Fontaine also leads the French national team in all-time goals scored in the FIFA World Cup.

Most Goals Scored By World Cup Year

Below is a list of each world cup and the country that scored the most goals that year.