Top five goalscorers in World Cup qualifying history

Messi and Ronaldo going head to head for yet another record!

With the World Cup qualifying campaign underway across all continents, many nations are hoping to secure their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Many top players will be vital to their respective nations in guiding them to a World Cup berth next year.

Moreover, many records are there to break as players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi eyeing one significant record that they can break in recent qualifiers. Messi, who has scored 36 goals in World Cup qualifiers, is four goals behind overtaking the top scorer Carlos Ruiz, who has 39. Meanwhile, Ronaldo is now tied as the top scorer in the qualifiers history.

5. Robert Lewandowski (Poland): 32 in 41 appearances

Robert Lewandowski is one of just five players to have netted 100 goals for three separate clubs and is widely considered one of the best strikers in mordern football.

Lewandowski, who has been a full international for Poland since 2008, has 160 caps and is the country’s all-time leading scorer with 86 goals. In addition to having the most goals in World Cup qualifying matches, Lewandowski has been voted the Polish Footballer of the Year a record twelve times and the Polish Sports Personality of the Year three times.

Also Read: Top 13 international goalscorers of all time

4. Ali Daei (Iran): 35 in 51 appearances

Ali Daei is considered to be among the greatest Asian football players and one of the finest Iranian football players of all time. In international football, Daei is the all-time leading Asian men’s goal scorer.

Daei was a big forward who scored goals frequently and was renowned for his precision while heading and his skill in the air. With 109 goals, he was the leading international goal scorer in the world until Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo overtook him. In addition to having the most goals for his country, he also has the most goals in World Cup qualifiers.

3. Lionel Messi (Argentina): 36 in 72 appearances

Lionel Messi recently took his World Cup qualifiying tally to 36 goals after he scored a brace against Venezuela in their 3-0 win. The Argentine is also not far from breaking another record in his career.

However, following Ronaldo’s brace in the campaign, he certainly won’t be the first player to become the all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifiers. Moreover, he is also doubtful to play in Argentina’s next qualifier match against Ecuador, which will be the La Albiceleste’s last 2026 World Cup qualifiying match.

Also Read: Top 10 highest goalscorers in football history

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): 39 in 49 appearances

Cristiano Ronaldo has set his sights on becoming the all-time leading scorer in qualification history after he begins his 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with three goals in two matches.

With 39 goals in 49 appearances to date, the Portuguese superstar is now only tied with Ruiz to for the most goals in the World Cup qualifiers after his penalty goal against Hungary on 9 September 2025.

Ronaldo’s goal is to shatter that record when they play Hungary in their upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

Also Read: Top 10 players with most assists in international football history

1. Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala): 39 goals in 47 appearances

Ruiz is regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time in Guatemala’s history, having set many records with the national team and among them was scoring the most goals in the World Cup qualifying campaign. He represented his national team from 1998 to 2016 and served as their captain. He also boasts the most appearances for Guatemala and has set many records throughout his playing career.

During his time in national team colours, Ruiz appeared in five World Cup qualification phases and in September 2016, he became the all-time top scorer in World Cup qualification with 39 goals, although his country never qualified for the tournament.

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