SANTO DOMINGO.– Achieving a victory in a FIFA World Cup is a privilege reserved for the football elite. However, only a small group of players has managed to turn World Cup victories into a constant throughout several editions of the tournament. Following the update made after the matches on July 4, 2026, Lionel Messi became the footballer with the most wins in the history of the competition.
World Cup wins ranking
The captain of the Argentine national team has 20 victories in 30 matches, surpassing the German Miroslav Klose, who accumulated 17 wins during his four World Cup appearances.
Completing the podium is the Brazilian Cafú, with 16 victories, while the Frenchman Kylian Mbappé also reached that figure and continues to climb positions in a career that is still ongoing.
Historical ranking
According to the FIFA update following the matches played on July 4, 2026, the players with the most victories in World Cup history are:
- Lionel Messi – 20
- Miroslav Klose – 17
- Cafú – 16
- Kylian Mbappé – 16
- Wolfgang Overath – 15
- Ronaldo – 15
- Philipp Lahm – 15
- Bastian Schweinsteiger – 15
- Lothar Matthäus – 15
- Lúcio – 14
- Franz Beckenbauer – 14
- Olivier Giroud – 14
- Antoine Griezmann – 14
- Per Mertesacker – 14
- Hugo Lloris – 14
- Paolo Maldini – 14
- Manuel Neuer – 14
Leaders’ profile
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- Matches: 30
- Wins: 20
- Draws: 5
- Losses: 5
- Win average: 0.67 per match
By World Cup
More Read
- 2006: 2 wins (quarter-finalist)
- 2010: 4 wins (quarter-finalist)
- 2014: 5 wins (runner-up)
- 2018: 1 win (round of 16)
- 2022: 4 wins (champion)
- 2026: 4 wins (tournament in progress)
Miroslav Klose (Germany)
- Matches: 24
- Wins: 17
- Draws: 3
- Losses: 4
- Average: 0.71 wins per match
By World Cup
- 2002: 5 wins (runner-up)
- 2006: 5 wins (third place)
- 2010: 3 wins (third place)
- 2014: 4 wins (champion)
Cafu (Brazil)
- Matches: 20
- Wins: 16
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 3
- Average: 0.80
By World Cup
- 1994: 2 wins (champion)
- 1998: 4 wins (runner-up)
- 2002: 7 wins (champion)
- 2006: 3 wins (quarter-finalist)
Kylian Mbappé (France)
- Matches: 19
- Wins: 16
- Draws: 2
- Losses: 1
- Average: 0.84
By World Cup
- 2018: 6 wins (champion)
- 2022: 5 wins (runner-up)
- 2026: 5 wins (tournament in progress)
Wolfgang Overath (Federal Republic of Germany)
- Matches: 19
- Wins: 15
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 3
- Average: 0.79
By World Cup
- 1966: 4 wins (runner-up)
- 1970: 5 wins (third place)
- 1974: 6 wins (champion)
Ronaldo (Brazil)
- Matches: 19
- Wins: 15
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 3
- Average: 0.79
By World Cup
- 1998: 4 wins (runner-up)
- 2002: 7 wins (champion)
- 2006: 4 wins (quarter-finalist)
Philipp Lahm (Germany)
- Matches: 20
- Wins: 15
- Draws: 2
- Losses: 3
- Average: 0.75
By World Cup
- 2006: 5 wins (third place)
- 2010: 4 wins (third place)
- 2014: 6 wins (champion)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
- Matches: 20
- Wins: 15
- Draws: 2
- Losses: 3
- Average: 0.75
By World Cup
- 2006: 5 wins (third place)
- 2010: 5 wins (third place)
- 2014: 5 wins (champion)
Lothar Matthäus (Federal Republic of Germany/Germany)
- Matches: 25
- Wins: 15
- Draws: 6
- Losses: 4
- Average: 0.60
By World Cup
- 1982: 2 wins (runner-up)
- 1986: 3 wins (runner-up)
- 1990: 5 wins (champion)
- 1994: 3 wins (quarter-finalist)
- 1998: 2 wins (quarter-finalist)
Lúcio (Brazil)
- Matches: 17
- Wins: 14
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 2
- Average: 0.82
By World Cup
More Read
- 2002: 7 wins (champion)
- 2006: 4 wins (quarter-finalist)
- 2010: 3 wins (quarter-finalist)
Franz Beckenbauer (Federal Republic of Germany)
- Matches: 18
- Wins: 14
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 3
- Average: 0.78
By World Cup
- 1966: 4 wins (runner-up)
- 1970: 4 wins (third place)
- 1974: 6 wins (champion)
Olivier Giroud (France)
- Matches: 18
- Wins: 14
- Draws: 3
- Losses: 1
- Average: 0.78
By World Cup
- 2014: 3 wins (quarter-finalist)
- 2018: 6 wins (champion)
- 2022: 5 wins (runner-up)
Antoine Griezmann (France)
- Matches: 19
- Wins: 14
- Draws: 3
- Losses: 2
- Average: 0.74
By World Cup
- 2014: 3 wins (quarter-finalist)
- 2018: 6 wins (champion)
- 2022: 5 wins (runner-up)
Per Mertesacker (Germany)
- Matches: 19
- Wins: 14
- Draws: 2
- Losses: 3
- Average: 0.74
By World Cup
- 2006: 4 wins (third place)
- 2010: 5 wins (third place)
- 2014: 5 wins (champion)
Hugo Lloris (France)
- Matches: 20
- Wins: 14
- Draws: 3
- Losses: 3
- Average: 0.70
By World Cup
- 2010: 0 wins (group stage)
- 2014: 3 wins (quarter-finalist)
- 2018: 6 wins (champion)
- 2022: 5 wins (runner-up)
Paolo Maldini (Italy)
- Matches: 23
- Wins: 14
- Draws: 6
- Losses: 3
- Average: 0.61
By World Cup
- 1990: 6 wins (third place)
- 1994: 4 wins (runner-up)
- 1998: 3 wins (quarter-finalist)
- 2002: 1 win (round of 16)
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
- Matches: 23
- Wins: 14
- Draws: 3
- Losses: 6
- Average: 0.61
By World Cup
- 2010: 4 wins (third place)
- 2014: 6 wins (champion)
- 2018: 1 win (group stage)
- 2022: 1 win (group stage)
- 2026: 2 wins (eliminated in round of 32)
Data updated after the matches played on July 4, 2026.
