Lionel Messi is the leading scorer among active players in FIFA World Cup history with 18 goals, but Kylian Mbappé has narrowed the gap to just two goals, setting up a potential changing of the guard at football's biggest tournament.

According to FIFA World Cup records , Messi tops the list with 18 goals after extending his tally during the 2026 tournament. The Argentine captain surpassed former records during his World Cup career, which included lifting the trophy in Qatar in 2022.

France forward Mbappé sits second among active players with 16 World Cup goals. Still only in his twenties, the French star has already established himself as one of the tournament's most prolific scorers, having played key roles in France's 2018 World Cup triumph and 2022 runner-up finish.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo remains third with 10 World Cup goals. While the five-time Ballon d'Or winner continues to add to his legendary career, he faces a significant gap to the two players ahead of him.

The numbers highlight a shift between generations. Messi and Ronaldo have dominated global football for nearly two decades, collecting multiple Ballon d'Or awards, league titles and international honours. However, Mbappé's rapid rise has positioned him as the most likely player to challenge Messi's World Cup scoring mark in the years ahead.

FIFA records show that World Cup goals remain among the sport's most valued achievements due to the tournament's four-year cycle and limited opportunities to score on football's biggest stage.

With the 2026 World Cup still unfolding, attention remains focused on whether Messi can further extend his lead, whether Mbappé can overtake him, or whether Ronaldo can produce another memorable chapter in one of football's greatest rivalries.

For now, Messi remains on top, but the race for World Cup scoring supremacy is far from over.

FIFA's expanded 2026 World Cup is not only the largest tournament in the competition's history but also the most lucrative, with the winning nation set to receive $50 million in prize money, according to FIFA's official financial framework for the tournament.

The competition, hosted across the United States , Canada and Mexico, features a record 48 teams, up from 32 in previous editions. The expanded format has significantly increased financial rewards, ensuring every participating nation receives a substantial payout regardless of performance.

Under FIFA's prize distribution model, the tournament champions will earn $50 million, while the runners-up will receive $33 million. The third-placed team will take home $29 million, and the fourth-placed side will collect $27 million.

Quarter-finalists are guaranteed $19 million each; teams reaching the Round of 16 will earn $15 million, while nations eliminated in the Round of 32 receive $11 million. Teams exiting in the first knockout round, known as the Round of 48, will receive $9 million.

In addition to performance-based prize money, FIFA has allocated $2.5 million in preparation funding to every qualified nation. This means all 48 participants are guaranteed at least $12.5 million from the tournament.

The increased payouts reflect FIFA's growing commercial revenues from broadcasting rights, sponsorships and global partnerships. The governing body has projected record revenues for the 2023-2026 cycle, driven largely by the first-ever 48-team men's World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly stated that the expanded tournament is designed to increase global participation while ensuring more nations benefit financially from football's biggest event.

For emerging football nations, the guaranteed payments can provide a significant boost to infrastructure development, youth programmes and national team operations. For smaller federations, a World Cup appearance can generate revenues that exceed several years of normal football income.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Prize Money

According to FIFA, the expanded financial structure ensures that all participating nations share in the economic benefits of the world's most-watched sporting event while maintaining substantial rewards for teams that advance deep into the tournament.

Speaking to reporters in Burgenstock on Monday, Vance was asked whether comments made by US President Donald Trump had disrupted negotiations.

"Did the president's threats yesterday really throw a wrench in negotiations? There were reports that the Iranians walked out at one point. Can you just clarify and tell us what happened?" he was asked.

"No, they didn't throw a wrench in the system. The thing with the Iranians, yes, they did threaten to walk out, or at least there were social media threats that they would walk out. But we were negotiating well past one in the morning yesterday, so they didn't walk out," he went on.

"So, yes, there was a little bit of threatening. There was a little bit of whining. But at the end of the day, the talks continued and we made great progress."

The comments came after discussions involving US and Iranian delegations, with Qatar and Pakistan acting as mediators. Iran's team was led by Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

The negotiations are part of efforts to turn last week's Memorandum of Understanding into a final agreement within a 60-day timeframe.

Earlier in the day, Iran announced it had closed the Strait of Hormuz again following continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, amid renewed accusations between Hezbollah and Israel over violations of the latest ceasefire.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the talks had produced significant results.

"Pakistani and Qatari media tion has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War," he posted on social media.

"Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction and development plan launched for Iran."

The United States and Iran reached a Memorandum of Understanding last week, setting a 60-day period for negotiations aimed at securing a final deal.