COMPLETE ROSTER: Top Scorers in FIFA World Cup Elimination Rounds

The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to witness remarkable performances, with several football stars etching their names in history during the knockout stage, and the tournament has seen record-breaking feats since the Round of 32 concluded and the Round of 16 commenced on Saturday.

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As of Friday's update by FIFA, French team captain Kylian Mbappé stands out as the highest goalscorer in the knockout phase of the World Cup, with an impressive 10 goals to his name.

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Mbappé achieved this milestone after scoring two goals in France's 3-0 win over Sweden in the Round of 32 on June 30, bringing his total knockout-stage goals per game average to 1.11, the highest among active players on the list.

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Argentina's captain, Lionel Messi, is among the four players who have scored six knockout-stage goals, having added to his tally during Argentina's 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde on Friday.

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According to FIFA, a total of 20 players in the history of the World Cup have managed to score at least five goals in knockout matches, a testament to the competitive nature of the tournament.

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The rankings of the top scorers in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage are as follows: Kylian Mbappé with 10 goals in 9 games, Leonidas and Ronaldo with 8 goals in 5 and 10 games, respectively, and several other players with 7 and 6 goals.

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The list includes notable players such as Just Fontaine, Vavá, Oldřich Nejedlý, Pelé, Eusébio, György Sárosi, Gary Lineker, Roberto Baggio, and Lionel Messi, showcasing the talent and skill of footballers across different eras.

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FIFA has noted that comparisons between players from different eras should be considered in context, taking into account the significant changes in the World Cup format over time.

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The governing body has pointed out that the 1934 and 1938 tournaments were played entirely as knockout competitions, while the 1950 World Cup had no knockout stage, and other editions had limited knockout matches compared to the modern format.