During the last 20 years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo They have starred in one of the most exciting individual duels in the history of football, but that is not repeated in the World Cups.
The Portuguese has barely 10 goals scored in the World Cup against 18 for the Argentine, who for now is the highest historical scorer in the 23 editions of the world championship.
A new enemy has appeared to Messi. It’s about French Kylian MBappéwho with 16 goals and 27 years of age occupies second place in the table after competing in three World Cups.
Messi and Cristiano are playing in their sixth Cup and the albiceleste’s start is much brighter than that of the Portuguese.
There are only four active players among the 17 double-digit scorers in World Cup history. Mbappé has every chance not only of catching up with Messi, but of surpassing him, since he could play at least two more World Cups.
The British Harry Kane He has the most complicated things, not only because he is already 32 years old but because in four cups he has scored 10 goals.
Therefore, the battle to become the top hitter in the history of the World Cup is focused on Messi and Mbappé.
The Argentine turned 39 on June 24 and has the hunger of a kid. In his second World Cup match on American fields, he missed a penalty and then scored two sensational goals, accompanying the play as if he were a boy eager to consecrate himself.
As if that were not enough, on the last play of the game he caught the ball and took a free kick with a tremendous desire to score, as if it were his first opportunity.
In the same way, Mbappé shows an extraordinary fighting spirit and the ferocity of a hyena in his quest to beat the opposing goals.
In the future the Norwegian may appear in that dispute Erling Haalandwho at 25 years old has four goals in two games in the current World Cup and at that rate the sky is the limit.
There is a record that specialists consider will never be surpassed: the 13 goals scored by the Frenchman Just Fontaine in a single World Cup, in Sweden 1958. Messi and Mbappé can make that miracle with the start they have had in the current World Cup, with five and four goals respectively in the first two games.
Some approached him like the Hungarian Sandor Kocsiswith 11 goals in Switzerland 1954; the german Gerd Mullerwith 10 in Mexico 1970; and the Brazilian Ronaldo Nazarioin Japan-South Korea 2002and Mbappé, in Qatar 2022both with eight each.
In the grand total of the scorers table in the history of the 23 editions of the World Cup, Messi stands out with 18; Mbappé and the German Miroslav Klosewith 16 scores, the second in four tournaments.
Then they continue Ronaldo Nazariowith 15 in four world championships; Muller, with 14 in two Cups; Fontaine 13; Pelewith 12 in four world championships; Jurgen Klinsmann11 in three, and Kocsis; and with 10 in various Cups, Cristiano RonaldoKane, the Argentine Gabriel Batistutathe Peruvian Teófilo “Nene” Cubillasthe Polish Grzegorz Latoenglish Gary Lineker and the germans Thomas Mueller and Helmut Rahn.
World Cup Gunboats
Name Country Goals Cups
Lionel Messi Argentina 18 Six
Miroslav Klose Germany 16 Four
Kylian Mbappé France 16 Three
Ronaldo Nazario Brazil 15 Four
Gerd Muller Germany 14 Two
Just Fontaine France 13 One
Pelé Brazil 12 Four
Jurgen Klinsmann Germany 11 Three
Sandor Kocsis Hungary 11 One
Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal 10 Six
Harry Kane England 10 Three
Gabriel Batistuta Argentina 10 Three
Teófilo “Nene” Cubillas Peru 10 Three
Grzegorz Lato Poland 10 Three
Gary Lineker England 10 Two
Thomas Muller Germany 10 Four
Helmut Rahn Germany 10 Two
