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The World Cup is less than a week away and fans around the globe are booking their tickets to Russia where the most awaited sporting event will be held this year. The first World Cup was won by Uruguay in 1930 and the last Cup was won by Germany in 2014.
With an amazing history of hosting the most talented goal scorers, the World Cup is a platform honored by numerous football icons.
Though Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi are the first names to come to our minds when we talk about top goal scorers of the current generation, they do not feature on the list of the top goal scorers of all time in the World Cup.
Right on this note, let us have a look at the all-time top goal scorers in the World Cup history.
#5 Pele (12)
The inclusion of the best and most famous athlete of the last century on this list may not come as a surprise to any football fan. Scoring 12 goals in just 14 appearances, Pele was one of the most vital players in Brazil’s triumph in international football.
He had enjoyed one of the most decorated careers possible with the Brazilian national team and had won three FIFA World Cup titles - 1958, 1962 and 1970. The only player to ever do so.
The IFFHS had voted him as the World Player of the Century in 1999. The same year, he shared the title of the FIFA Player of the Century with Maradona.
He retired from professional football in 1974 but got back from his semi-retirement in 1975, and signed a contract with the American Club New York Cosmos before finally hanging his boots in 1977.
It is said by many that Pele had a perfect balance and an impossible vision, and he could do anything and everything on the pitch.
His list of achievements and the legacy he left behind are never-ending. Even after years of retirement, he continues to serve as one of the biggest inspirations in the world of football.
All stats via transfermarkt
#4 Just Fontaine (13)
Best remembered for his performances in the 1958 FIFA World Cup, Fontaine would have probably been at the top of our list if he wasn’t compelled to retire young on account of a recurring injury.
An unbelievable 13 goals in just six appearances still remains to be the unbeaten record set by the former French International. Fontaine's scoring feasts are even more unbelievable because he wasn't even wearing his own boots and had to borrow them from a teammate.
He broke his leg twice in 1960 and had to retire from international football just at the age of 27.
However, he had scored 30 goals in 21 caps for the French National team with an amazing strike rate of 1.43 goals, which is the highest of anybody scoring 30 international goals.
#3 Gerd Muller (14)
Another beast on the field, the German International was a prolific striker renowned for his clinical finishing. Gerd Muller had played his first World Cup tournament in 1970, scoring ten goals.
In the 1974 World Cup, Muller scored four goals, one of which was the deciding goal in the final against the Netherlands. Having captured a World Cup title, he abruptly retired from international competition at the age of 28.
However, he continued his club career before finally hanging his boots in 1982. The two-time German Footballer of the Year, Gerd Muller played 62 games for Germany and scored an impressive tally of 68 goals.
#2 Ronaldo (15)
Best known for his dribbling at speed, feints, and clinical finishing, El Fenomeno was one of the most feared strikers on the planet during his time.
During his wonderful career, he scored 15 goals in the World Cup tournaments in just 19 appearances. Along with the French Legend Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo is the only player to have won the FIFA Player of the Year on three different occasions – 1996, 1997 and 2002.
However, Ronaldo had to suffer a serious knee injury during his peak years due to which it looked like he may have to bring his career to a horrifically early end. Nevertheless, he proved everyone wrong at the 2002 World Cup and bagged his third Player of the Year award along with the World Cup title in Japan.
Ronaldo ended his international career with the 2006 World Cup and also became the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup tournaments before being overtaken in 2014.
#1 Miroslav Klose
A humble scoring machine known for his ability in the air as a centre forward, Miroslav Klose scored his 16th goal in the last World Cup, breaking all records and becoming the top all-time World Cup goal scorer.
Klose had his first World Cup appearance in the 2002 World Cup and had scored an unbeaten record of five goals, all from headers. He is also the record-holding goalscorer for Germany, he scored 71 goals in 137 games for Germany.
A prolific goalscorer, Klose was also well-known for his fair play and ethics. For his actions and correct behavior on field, he was awarded numerous times.
Just like the other German on this list, Klose ended his international career after lifting the World Cup trophy along with setting the record of scoring the most World Cup goals.
