FIFA have released the official list of the all-time top goalscorers in World Cup qualifiers, with several legends making the cut as the 2026 qualifying campaign continues.
Leading the chart is Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz, who scored an incredible 39 goals in 47 appearances, putting him ahead of global icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
World Cup Qualifiers All-Time Top Goalscorers
- Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala) – 39 goals in 47 matches
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 38 goals in 48
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 36 goals in 72
- Ali Daei (Iran) – 35 goals in 51
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland) – 32 goals in 41
- Chris Wood (New Zealand) – 29 goals in 31
- Sardar Azmoun (Iran) – 29 goals in 41
- Luis Suárez (Uruguay) – 29 goals in 64
- Karim Bagheri (Iran) – 28 goals in 29
- Edin Džeko (Bosnia & Herzegovina) – 28 goals in 40
- Kazuyoshi Miura (Japan) – 27 goals in 25
- Ali Mabkhout (UAE) – 26 goals in 33
- Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) – 26 goals in 40
- Tim Cahill (Australia) – 25 goals in 37
- Carlos Pavón (Honduras) – 25 goals in 37
- Mehdi Taremi (Iran) – 24 goals in 44
- Jared Borgetti (Mexico) – 23 goals in 24
- Son Heung-min (South Korea) – 23 goals in 47
- Marcelo Martins (Bolivia) – 22 goals in 64
- Paolo Wanchope (Costa Rica) – 21 goals in 37
Key Highlights
- Carlos Ruiz remains the top scorer in World Cup qualifiers history.
- Cristiano Ronaldo (38) and Lionel Messi (36) are close behind, still active and capable of climbing further.
- Asia and South America are well-represented, with Ali Daei, Son Heung-min, and Luis Suárez among the greats.
This list shows how legends across continents have left their mark on the biggest stage before the World Cup finals.
