World Cup top scorers: From Ronaldo to Thomas Müller

The way the Englishman and the Frenchman are performing this season, it is quite likely that one of the two will achieve their first double in the USA in July.

Kane, who won the 2018 finals with six goals, as well Defending champion Mbappe (eight direct hits in Qatar in 2022) are also among the top favorites for the bookmakers. Next to old masters Lionel Messi for defending champions Argentina or Erling Haalandwho may have to leave Norway earlier.

Historic Mbappe

The eight Mbappe goals are historically outstanding: only the “first” Ronaldo managed that many in the past five decades. In 2002, on the way to the title, the Brazilian also attracted attention with his unusual World Cup hairstyle.

The last time Gerd Müller (10) reached double figures was in 1970.

When you look back, you notice that the absolute elite – like Kane or Mbappe – were not always in top form at the right time.

As a surprise man WM 1994 still stands out today Oleg Salenko with six goals (like the Bulgarian Stoitschkow). The now 56-year-old Russian had a mediocre career. From Logrones in Spain we went to the finals in the USA, after which Valencia and the Glasgow Rangers relied on the “World Cup top scorer” factor.

But Salenko was only outstanding in one game: against Cameroon in the last World Cup group game with a 6-1 win five Salenko goals. A World Cup record, perhaps for eternity.

World Cup specialist Thomas Müller

Another rarity created Thomas Müller. The hanging top was for over a decade FC Bayern as an important factor for the German team. But the now 36-year-old, who still plays for Vancouver, was never a goalgetter.

That’s why Müller became one top scorer exactly once – but that at a World Cup! Not with the 2014 title, but four years before that. Müller celebrated five times in 2010 and scored three assists, which brought him into first place.

Ahead of competitors Forlan, Villa and Sneijder, who also had five direct hits.

The biggest Austrian reference is to the champion of the 1978 World Cup. Mario Kempes managed six goals in his homeland and also became world champion. Unimaginable today: At just 31 years old, Kempes moved to Vienna.

Even in St. Pölten and Krems, people still speak highly of the modest world star, who demonstrated his great qualities in Austria from 1986 to 1992.

Tragic “Toto” Schillaci

The Top scorer in 1990 However, it has a painful connection to Austria: Salvatore „Toto“ Schillaci started the home World Cup as a joker and was from Late 1-0 against the ÖFB team unstoppable anymore.

The then 25-year-old scored six of his only seven team goals at the World Cup, making him the top scorer.

But the Sicilian didn’t become a world star because Schillaci never regained his World Cup form. “Toto” died in 2024 at just 59 years old.