World Cup records & all-time stats
Brazil leads with 5 World Cup titles, Miroslav Klose is the all-time top scorer with 16 goals, and the 2022 edition set the total-goals record with 172 goals (2.69 per match). Every record below is computed from all 22 editions since 1930 - and 2026, with 104 matches, is about to rewrite the totals.
World Cup titles by country
| Country | Titles | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 5 | 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 |
| Germany | 4 | 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014 |
| Italy | 4 | 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 |
| Argentina | 3 | 1978, 1986, 2022 |
| France | 2 | 1998, 2018 |
| Uruguay | 2 | 1930, 1950 |
| England | 1 | 1966 |
| Spain | 1 | 2010 |
West Germany's titles (1954, 1974, 1990) are credited to Germany, per FIFA.
All-time World Cup top scorers
Career World Cup goals through the 2022 edition. Messi and Mbappe both feature at the 2026 tournament and could climb this list - follow the live race on the Golden Boot tracker.
| # | Player | Country | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 |
| 2 | Ronaldo | Brazil | 15 |
| 3 | Gerd Muller | West Germany | 14 |
| 4 | Just Fontaine | France | 13 |
| 5 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 13 |
| 6 | Pele | Brazil | 12 |
| 7 | Kylian Mbappe | France | 12 |
| 8 | Sandor Kocsis | Hungary | 11 |
| 9 | Jurgen Klinsmann | Germany | 11 |
Goals per tournament since 1930
Total goals, matches, and average goals per match for every FIFA World Cup edition. The 2026 edition adds 40 extra matches (104 total), so the all-time total-goals record of 172 (2022) is expected to fall.
| Edition | Goals | Matches | Goals / match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 172 | 64 | 2.69 |
| 2018 | 169 | 64 | 2.64 |
| 2014 | 171 | 64 | 2.67 |
| 2010 | 145 | 64 | 2.27 |
| 2006 | 147 | 64 | 2.30 |
| 2002 | 161 | 64 | 2.52 |
| 1998 | 171 | 64 | 2.67 |
| 1994 | 141 | 52 | 2.71 |
| 1990 | 115 | 52 | 2.21 |
| 1986 | 132 | 52 | 2.54 |
| 1982 | 146 | 52 | 2.81 |
| 1978 | 102 | 38 | 2.68 |
| 1974 | 97 | 38 | 2.55 |
| 1970 | 95 | 32 | 2.97 |
| 1966 | 89 | 32 | 2.78 |
| 1962 | 89 | 32 | 2.78 |
| 1958 | 126 | 35 | 3.60 |
| 1954 | 140 | 26 | 5.38 |
| 1950 | 88 | 22 | 4.00 |
| 1938 | 84 | 18 | 4.67 |
| 1934 | 70 | 17 | 4.12 |
| 1930 | 70 | 18 | 3.89 |
Every Golden Boot winner
| Edition | Top scorer | Country | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 8 |
| 2018 | Harry Kane | England | 6 |
| 2014 | James Rodríguez | Colombia | 6 |
| 2010 | Thomas Müller, Diego Forlán, Wesley Sneijder, David Villa | Various | 5 |
| 2006 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 5 |
| 2002 | Ronaldo | Brazil | 8 |
| 1998 | Davor Šuker | Croatia | 6 |
| 1994 | Oleg Salenko & Hristo Stoichkov | Russia & Bulgaria | 6 |
| 1990 | Salvatore Schillaci | Italy | 6 |
| 1986 | Gary Lineker | England | 6 |
| 1982 | Paolo Rossi | Italy | 6 |
| 1978 | Mario Kempes | Argentina | 6 |
| 1974 | Grzegorz Lato | Poland | 7 |
| 1970 | Gerd Müller | West Germany | 10 |
| 1966 | Eusébio | Portugal | 9 |
| 1962 | 6 players tied | Various | 4 |
| 1958 | Just Fontaine | France | 13 |
| 1954 | Sándor Kocsis | Hungary | 11 |
| 1950 | Ademir | Brazil | 9 |
| 1938 | Leônidas | Brazil | 7 |
| 1934 | Oldřich Nejedlý | Czechoslovakia | 5 |
| 1930 | Guillermo Stábile | Argentina | 8 |
Keep exploring
2026 Golden Boot race
Live top scorers, updated after every match.
World Cup 2022
Argentina's win in Qatar, match by match.
World Cup 1958
Fontaine's 13-goal record tournament.
2026 key dates
Every stage date of the current tournament.
Historical data API
Pull historical World Cup data in code.
2026 predictions
Win-probability models for this edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has won the most World Cups?
Brazil has won the most FIFA World Cups with 5 titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002). Germany and Italy follow with 4 each, then Argentina with 3 (1978, 1986, 2022).
Who is the all-time top scorer in World Cup history?
Miroslav Klose (Germany) is the all-time leading World Cup scorer with 16 goals across four tournaments (2002-2014), ahead of Ronaldo (15) and Gerd Muller (14).
What is the average goals per match at a World Cup?
Recent World Cups average around 2.6-2.7 goals per match: 2022 in Qatar produced 172 goals in 64 matches (2.69 per match), 2018 had 169 in 64 (2.64). The all-time record average is 5.38 per match at Switzerland 1954.
What was the average goals per match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar produced 172 goals in 64 matches - an average of 2.69 goals per match, the joint-highest total in World Cup history alongside France 1998 and Brazil 2014 (171 each, at 2.67 per match).
What is the record for most goals in a single World Cup by one player?
Just Fontaine (France) scored 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden - a single-tournament record that still stands. The closest modern run is Kylian Mbappe with 8 goals in 2022.
Who won the 1998 World Cup Golden Boot?
Davor Suker of Croatia won the 1998 Golden Boot with 6 goals as Croatia finished third. France won the tournament, beating Brazil 3-0 in the final.
How many goals will be scored at the 2026 World Cup?
With the expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches (up from 64), the 2026 World Cup is expected to smash the total-goals record. At the recent average of about 2.65 goals per match, 104 matches projects to roughly 275 goals.
Can I get historical World Cup data via API?
Yes. TheStatsAPI provides historical World Cup match data, player stats, and results programmatically, alongside live data for the 2026 tournament. See the historical football data guide on the blog.
Historical and live World Cup data via API
Match data, player stats, and xG - historical editions plus the live 2026 tournament. 7-day free trial.