World Cup Records & All-Time Stats

The landmark numbers of the FIFA World Cup — the goalscorers, appearance-makers, serial champions and record scorelines that define nearly a century of the tournament.

Record holders

All-time

Most goals (all-time)

Miroslav Klose

16 goals · Germany · 2002–2014

Most goals, one tournament

Just Fontaine

13 goals · France · 1958

Most appearances

Lionel Messi

Argentina · 2006–2022

Most finals reached

Germany & Brazil

8 finals each

Youngest scorer

Pelé

17y · Brazil · 1958

Biggest final win

Brazil 5–2 Sweden

1958 final

Most titles

World Cups won

#	Nation	Titles	Years
1	Brazil	5	1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
2	Germany	4	1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
3	Italy	4	1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
4	Argentina	3	1978, 1986, 2022
5	France	2	1998, 2018
6	Uruguay	2	1930, 1950
7	England	1	1966
8	Spain	1	2010

World Cup records — frequently asked questions

Who is the World Cup all-time top scorer?

Miroslav Klose of Germany, with 16 goals across four tournaments (2002–2014).

Who has scored the most goals in a single World Cup?

Just Fontaine of France scored 13 goals at the 1958 tournament — a record that still stands.

Which player has the most World Cup appearances?

Lionel Messi of Argentina holds the record for most matches played at World Cups.

What is the biggest win in World Cup history?

Hungary 10–1 El Salvador (1982) and Hungary 9–0 South Korea (1954) are among the largest margins.

World Cup records and all-time statistics

Across more than 90 years, the World Cup has produced records that have stood for generations. Miroslav Klose is the all-time top scorer with 16 goals, while Just Fontaine's 13 goals in a single 1958 tournament may never be beaten. On the team side, Brazil's five titles lead the way. The 48-team 2026 World Cup — with 104 matches, the most ever — offers a fresh chance to rewrite the record books. Track this year's chase on the live top scorers and best players boards.