Who is overall top goalscorer in FIFA competitions history?

The Argentine player set a new record when he scored a free kick in the Club World Cup 2025.

In the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Lionel Messi’s winning goal against FC Porto helped him surpass Cristiano Ronaldo by a significant margin and become the all-time leading scorer in FIFA tournaments.

After going behind early in the first half, Inter Miami defeated Porto 2-1 on Matchday 2 of the Club World Cup 2025. By scoring the game’s second goal, Messi not only aided the Herons but also accomplished a noteworthy feat that now distinguishes him from Cristiano Ronaldo.

His goal helped Inter Miami clinch their most crucial win and enhanced their chances of reaching the next round of the tournament after being put in a group that has Palmeiras and Porto. That goal surely helped them get into the knockout round as they now will face PSG in the Round of 16 next.

With an incredible 25 goals, Messi became the all-time top scorer in official FIFA competitions. After participating in ten distinct FIFA competitions over the previous 20 years, he attained that total and created history with that milestone.

Marta, a legendary figure in Brazilian women’s soccer, held the previous record with 24 goals in both junior and adult World Cups from 2002 to 2023.

Messi’s stats in all FIFA tournaments

Way beyond his prime, Messi continues to create new records. Once again, the forward stole the headlines, this time in the revamped competition.

The 37-year-old has scored 25 goals in three different tournaments. The youth international tournament comes first. The forward’s only youth competition was the U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands in 2005, where he scored six goals.

Messi has participated in five World Cups with the Argentina national team at the senior international level. He netted one goal in Germany in 2006, none in South Africa in 2010, four in Brazil in 2014, one in Russia in 2018, and seven in Qatar in 2022. It’s important to remember that he never participated in the Confederations Cup.

Back when the competition only had one team per continental confederation, the forward participated in three prior Club World Cup tournaments with Barcelona. In 2009, 2011, and 2015, he scored twice, once, and twice more, respectively. That total is increased by Thursday’s goal against Porto.

From 2006 to the present, meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 17 goals overall in competitions run by the football governing body, including club and national team tournaments. He now trails the ex-Barcelona player’s record by eight goals.

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