Please note: players level on the same
number of goals are separated by their goal-to-game ratio…
10) Teofilo Cubillas (Peru) – 10 goals (1970, 1978, 1982)The
greatest Peruvian of all time, Cubillas was the inspiration behind his
country’s run to the quarter final in 1970. Scored a memorable goal against
Scotland eight years later in Argentina.
9) Gary Lineker (England) – 10 goals (1986, 1990)
Top scorer at the 1986 World Cup with six goals. Also struck four times
in 1990 as England finished fourth.
8) Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) – 10 goals (1994, 1998, 2002)
Legendary Argentine striker with a bullet of a right foot. At his peak
during the 1994 and 98 editions, but also scored as a veteran in Japan/South
Korea.
7) Helmut Rahn (West Germany) – 10 goals (1954, 1958)
‘The Cannon from Essen’ is best remembered for scoring twice in the 1954
final against Hungary, but he was also a star four years later in Sweden.
His 10 goals came from just nine games.
6) Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany) – 11 goals (1990, 1994, 1998)
Prolific striker who excelled in three straight World Cups and forged an
impressive partnership with Rudi Voller.
5) Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) – 11 goals (1954)
Like Just Fontaine further down this list, Kocsis only played in one
World Cup but was a key player in the magnificent Hungary team of 1954,
scoring in every game apart from the shock final defeat to West Germany.
4) Pele (Brazil) – 12 goals (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970)
‘The King’ burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old in 1958, scoring twice
in the final win over Sweden and hit the back of the net again in the final
12 years later during the 4-1 thumping of Italy.
3) Just Fontaine (France) – 13 goals (1958)
The striker only ever played in one World Cup, but remains to this day
the top-scorer in a single tournament with 13 as France finished third in
1958.
2) Gerd Muller (West Germany) – 14 goals (1970, 1974)
Arguably the best penalty box striker of all time, Muller hit 10 as West
Germany finished third in 1970, and then four in 1974 as Holland were
defeated in the final.
1) Ronaldo (Brazil) – 15 goals (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006)
Legendary Brazilian, who is best remembered for his exploits at the 2002
World Cup where his eight goals, including two in the final, led the Selecao
to glory.