World Cup 2018: 5 players with most goals for their respective nations

The World Cup, often regarded as the mother of all football competitions, is set to begin in Russia later this month. It is the biggest stage in the sport and the biggest players are already preparing to take part in this great tournament.

After displaying their incredible abilities at club level, these amazing superstars are looking forward to making their respective nations proud in the prestigious tournament.

As usual, the World Cup will feature a lot of fantastic players who will entertain us with their incredible talents. While the competition often witnesses players of various abilities, it is usually the goalscorers that steal the headlines.

In fact, it is true that some superstars will definitely surprise us with their amazing records in front of goal when the competition begins on the 14th.

With many incredible attackers getting set to take part in the tournament this month, let's quickly take a look at 5 superstars who have the highest goalscoring tallies for their respective nations:

#5. Radamel Falcao - Colombia (26 goals)

Falcao will lead Colombia in the World Cup this month

Monaco forward, Radamel Falcao is one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe at the moment. The Colombian had a fantastic season, bagging an amazing 21 goals and 4 assists in all competitions for the French side.

Falcao has enjoyed a successful career at club level, winning a couple of trophies and earning a reputation for his brilliance across Europe. He played an influential role as Monaco claimed the Ligue 1 title during the 2016/2017 campaign.

The attacker might not have won a major trophy with Colombia, but his amazing goalscoring exploits with the national team define his pure class. The attacker started his international career by representing his nation in the U20 championship where he bagged 2 goals in 3 appearances before joining the senior team in 2007.

Ever since then, Falcao has been one of the most consistent players in the country. The striker is currently the most prolific scorer in the country, with 26 goals in 65 appearances. After missing the last World Cup due to injury, the forward will be looking to seizing this opportunity in order to prove himself on the global stage. His nation will be counting on him to lead them to glory when the World Cup begins in Russia this month.

#4. Romelu Lukaku - Belgium (33 goals)

Lukaku was one of the most impressive strikers in the Premier League last term

Following a prolific campaign in which Romelu Lukaku scored an impressive 26 goals in all competitions for Manchester United, the superstar earned a spot to represent his nation in the FIFA World Cup that will take place in Russia this month.

The striker will enter the tournament holding the record for the highest goalscoring tally for his country. His 33 goals in 67 appearances place him on top of all the scorers in the history of the national team.

The attacker made his senior debut for Belgium in 2010, and ever since then, he has been a constant force in the team. He represented the Diables Rouges in both the 2014 World Cup and the Euro 2016 tournament and will be key to Belgium's chances in the World Cup this year. He scored an amazing goal for the country in the previous edition of the tournament and he will be looking forward to building on that this time.

#3. Luis Suarez - Uruguay (49 goals)

Suarez will be back in the tournament once again

Highly talented and deadly in front of goal, Luis Suarez is one of the brightest attackers that will feature in the World Cup this year. The Uruguayan was one of the most impressive strikers in Europe during the previous campaign, bagging an incredible 31 goals for Barcelona in all competitions as well as claiming both La Liga title and the Copa Del Rey trophy.

Apart from his progress at club level, Suarez has also enjoyed some level of success on the international stage. He led his nation to win the Copa America in 2011, scoring 4 goals in the tournament as well as being named the best player of the competition. He also represented the nation in both the 2010 and 2014 World Cup tournaments, scoring 2 goals in the latter and is their all-time scorer with 49 goals in 95 appearances.

While Suarez will be receiving the honors for being one of the elite attackers heading into the World Cup this year, the Uruguayan will also be looking forward to overcoming his negative reputation in the competition after biting Italian defender, Giorgio Chiellini in the tournament back in 2014.

#2. Lionel Messi - Argentina (64 goals)

Messi led Argentina to the World Cup final in 2014

Argentine maestro, Lionel Messi is one of the leading South Americans that will feature in the World Cup this year. An intelligent playmaker and a ferocious goalscorer, the attacker is someone that every team will be wary of in the tournament.

Once again, the Argentine will be carrying the burden of delivering the prestigious trophy for his nation. He went close in 2014, scoring 4 goals to lead the Albiceleste to the final of the competition before losing to Germany in extra time.

Despite his setbacks at the international level, the playmaker has a lot of remarkable achievements with his national team. Apart from winning the Olympics in 2008, Messi is also the all-time top scorer of the Albiceleste, bagging an incredible 64 goals in 122 appearances.

Following a decent campaign in which he helped Barcelona to win both La Liga title and the Copa del Rey, all eyes will be on him to inspire his country when the tournament begins in Russia this month.

#1. Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal (81 goals)

Ronaldo will be looking forward to adding the World Cup trophy to his Euro 2016 triumph

Many world-class players will feature in the FIFA World Cup this year. Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the amazing attackers that will light up the tournament when it kicks off in Russia.

The Real Madrid forward will be hoping to transfer his amazing form to the national team, after leading his club to a third consecutive Champions League triumph. His 41 goals and 8 assists in 40 appearances for Real Madrid also mean that he was one of the most impressive sharpshooters in Europe during the campaign.

Ronaldo led his nation to glory in the Euros in 2016 and he will be looking forward to reaching similar heights in the World Cup this year. The Portuguese is currently the all-time top scorer of his nation, recording an amazing 81 goals to his name. He achieved this in just 149 appearances.

Following his disappointing outing in the last edition of the tournament in which he could only manage a goal, the Portuguese will be hoping for a better performance in the competition this time around.