Scoring in a FIFA World Cup final is the ultimate test of greatness in football. The players with the most goals in FIFA World Cup finals are not just elite scorers — they are legends who delivered on the biggest stage in the sport.
Only a handful of players in history have managed to score multiple goals in World Cup finals, with Kylian Mbappé currently holding the all-time record with 4 goals across the 2018 and 2022 finals. From Geoff Hurst’s iconic 1966 hat-trick to Pelé’s dominance across two generations, these performances define football history.
In this article, we break down the all-time list of players with the most goals in FIFA World Cup finals, including complete rankings, historic matches, and the standout moments that shaped the biggest games ever played.
Players with Most Goals in FIFA World Cup Finals (All-Time Ranking)
| Player | Team | Total Goals | Final Matches (Goals Scored) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 4 | 2018 (1), 2022 (3) |
| Geoff Hurst | England | 3 | 1966 (3) |
| Pelé | Brazil | 3 | 1958 (2), 1970 (1) |
| Vavá | Brazil | 3 | 1958 (2), 1962 (1) |
| Zinedine Zidane | France | 3 | 1998 (2), 2006 (1) |
| Gino Colaussi | Italy | 2 | 1938 (2) |
| Silvio Piola | Italy | 2 | 1938 (2) |
| Helmut Rahn | West Germany | 2 | 1954 (2) |
| Mario Kempes | Argentina | 2 | 1978 (2) |
| Paul Breitner | West Germany | 2 | 1974 (1), 1982 (1) |
| Ronaldo | Brazil | 2 | 2002 (2) |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 2 | 2022 (2) |
Who Has Scored the Most Goals in a World Cup Final?
The only two players to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final are separated by 56 years — and one of them still lost.
The record for most goals in a single FIFA World Cup final is shared by Geoff Hurst (1966) and Kylian Mbappé (2022), each scoring three goals in a single final match.
Hurst’s England beat West Germany 4–2; Mbappé’s France lost to Argentina on penalties despite his heroics.
Across multiple finals, Mbappé holds the all-time record with four World Cup final goals — the only player ever to reach that figure.
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Players Who Scored Multiple Goals in World Cup Finals
Geoff Hurst
- England: 1966 World Cup Final
- Final goals: 3
On 30 July 1966 at Wembley Stadium, Geoff Hurst wrote his name permanently into football history.
Playing against West Germany in front of 96,924 fans, the West Ham striker scored in the 18th minute, added a second in extra time with the infamous “over the line” third goal, and completed his hat-trick in the dying seconds to seal a 4–2 victory.
He remains the only player in history to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final — a feat that seemed untouchable for over half a century. His name is now synonymous with the occasion.
Kylian Mbappé
- France: 2018 & 2022 World Cup Finals
- Final goals total: 4
Mbappé is in a statistical category of his own. In 2018, as a teenager, he scored France’s fourth goal in a 4–2 win over Croatia — becoming the second teenager ever to score in a World Cup final, after Pelé in 1958.
In 2022 against Argentina, he produced one of the most dramatic performances in football history: scoring a penalty and then a stunning volley within 97 seconds to drag France back from 2–0 down, before completing his hat-trick in extra time.
France ultimately lost on penalties, but Mbappé’s three goals in that single final match equalled Hurst’s all-time record.
His combined total of four World Cup final goals is unmatched by anyone in the history of the competition.
Pelé
- Brazil: 1958 & 1970 World Cup Finals
- Final goals: 3
Pelé’s impact on World Cup finals transcends statistics. In 1958, aged just 17, he scored twice as Brazil beat Sweden 5–2 — the first was a chest control and volley of extraordinary composure for a teenager, the second a deft header.
The performance announced him to the world. Twelve years later, in the 1970 final against Italy, he opened the scoring with a powerful header in a 4–1 Brazil victory.
Three World Cup final goals across two different eras, separated by more than a decade: that is a legacy few can claim.
Zinedine Zidane
- France: 1998 & 2006 World Cup Finals
- Final goals total: 3
Zinedine Zidane’s record in World Cup finals is a masterclass in big-game dominance — and then infamy.
In the 1998 final against Brazil, he scored twice in the first half with near-identical looping headers, laying the foundation for France’s 3–0 victory on home soil.
Eight years later, in 2006, he converted a trademark Panenka penalty in the final against Italy, before his headbutt on Marco Materazzi ended his career in disgrace.
Three World Cup final goals across two tournaments — and one of football’s most unforgettable exits.
Vavá
- Brazil: 1958 & 1962 World Cup Finals
- Final goals: 3
Edvaldo Izídio Neto — known universally as Vavá — is perhaps the most underrated name on this list.
The Brazilian centre-forward scored in back-to-back World Cup finals, netting against Sweden in 1958 and against Czechoslovakia in 1962, winning both.
He remains the only player alongside Pelé to score in two separate World Cup finals as part of the same champion Brazil dynasty.
His contributions have been somewhat overshadowed by those of his more famous teammates, but his record stands alongside the all-time greats.
Nations with Most Goals in World Cup Finals
Brazil has scored the most goals in FIFA World Cup final history, with a total of 15 goals across seven different final appearances.
Their highest single-game tally in a final occurred in 1958, when they defeated Sweden 5-2, setting a record for the most goals scored by one team in a single final.
| Nation | Total Goals in Finals | Final Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 15 | 1950*, 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 1998, 2002 |
| France | 11 | 1998, 2006, 2018, 2022 |
| Italy | 11 | 1934, 1938, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 |
| Germany | 10 | 1954, 1966, 1974, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2014 |
| Argentina | 9 | 1930, 1978, 1986, 1990, 2014, 2022 |
Notable Goal-Scoring Matches
- Highest Scoring Final: The 1958 final between Brazil and Sweden featured 7 goals (Brazil won 5-2).
- Recent High-Scoring Finals: Both the 2018 final (France 4-2 Croatia) and the 2022 final (Argentina 3-3 France) recorded 6 goals each, making them some of the most prolific in history.
- Lowest Scoring Final: The 1994 final between Brazil and Italy is the only one to end 0-0 after extra time, eventually decided by a penalty shootout.
list of goalscorers for every final: 1930 to 2022
A total of 83 goals have been scored across the 22 FIFA World Cup finals from 1930 to 2022 (excluding penalty shootouts).
Here is the consolidated list of every goal scored in a FIFA World Cup final from 1930 to 2022 (excluding penalty shootouts).
| Year | Finalists | Final Score | Goalscorers (Minute) |
| 1930 | Argentina vs. Uruguay | 2–4 | 20′ Carlos Peucelle (Argentina); 37′ Guillermo Stábile (Argentina); 42′ Pablo Dorado (Uruguay); 57′ Pedro Cea (Uruguay); 68′ Santos Iriarte (Uruguay); 89′ Héctor Castro (Uruguay) |
| 1934 | Czechoslovakia vs. Italy (a.e.t.) | 1–2 | 71′ Antonín Puč (Czechoslovakia); 81′ Raimundo Orsi (Italy); 95′ Angelo Schiavio (Italy, e.t.) |
| 1938 | Hungary vs. Italy | 2–4 | 6′ Gino Colaussi (Italy); 8′ Pál Titkos (Hungary); 16′ Silvio Piola (Italy); 35′ Gino Colaussi (Italy); 70′ György Sárosi (Hungary); 82′ Silvio Piola (Italy) |
| 1950 | Brazil vs. Uruguay | 1–2 | 47′ Friaça (Brazil); 66′ Juan Schiaffino (Uruguay); 79′ Alcides Ghiggia (Uruguay) |
| 1954 | Hungary vs. West Germany | 2–3 | 6′ Ferenc Puskás (Hungary); 8′ Zoltán Czibor (Hungary); 10′ Max Morlock (West Germany); 18′ Helmut Rahn (West Germany); 84′ Helmut Rahn (West Germany) |
| 1958 | Brazil vs. Sweden | 5–2 | 4′ Nils Liedholm (Sweden); 6′ Vavá (Brazil); 54′ Vavá (Brazil); 55′ Pelé (Brazil); 68′ Mário Zagallo (Brazil); 78′ Pelé (Brazil); 80′ Agne Simonsson (Sweden) |
| 1962 | Brazil vs. Czechoslovakia | 3–1 | 15′ Josef Masopust (Czechoslovakia); 17′ Amarildo (Brazil); 69′ Zito (Brazil); 78′ Vavá (Brazil) |
| 1966 | England vs. West Germany (a.e.t.) | 4–2 | 12′ Helmut Haller (West Germany); 18′ Geoff Hurst (England); 78′ Martin Peters (England); 89′ Wolfgang Weber (West Germany); 101′ Geoff Hurst (England, e.t.); 120′ Geoff Hurst (England, e.t.) |
| 1970 | Brazil vs. Italy | 4–1 | 18′ Pelé (Brazil); 37′ Roberto Boninsegna (Italy); 66′ Gérson (Brazil); 71′ Jairzinho (Brazil); 86′ Carlos Alberto (Brazil) |
| 1974 | Netherlands vs. West Germany | 1–2 | 2′ Johan Neeskens (Netherlands, pen); 25′ Paul Breitner (West Germany, pen); 43′ Gerd Müller (West Germany) |
| 1978 | Argentina vs. Netherlands (a.e.t.) | 3–1 | 38′ Mario Kempes (Argentina); 82′ Dick Nanninga (Netherlands); 103′ Mario Kempes (Argentina, e.t.); 114′ Daniel Bertoni (Argentina, e.t.) |
| 1982 | Italy vs. West Germany | 3–1 | 57′ Paolo Rossi (Italy); 69′ Marco Tardelli (Italy); 81′ Alessandro Altobelli (Italy); 83′ Paul Breitner (West Germany) |
| 1986 | Argentina vs. West Germany | 3–2 | 23′ José Luis Brown (Argentina); 55′ Jorge Valdano (Argentina); 74′ Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany); 80′ Rudi Völler (West Germany); 84′ Jorge Burruchaga (Argentina) |
| 1990 | Argentina vs. West Germany (a.e.t.) | 0–1 | 85′ Andreas Brehme (West Germany, pen) |
| 1994 | Brazil vs. Italy (a.e.t.) | 0–0 (3–2 pens) | No goals scored |
| 1998 | Brazil vs. France | 0–3 | 27′ Zinedine Zidane (France); 45+1′ Zinedine Zidane (France); 90+3′ Emmanuel Petit (France) |
| 2002 | Brazil vs. Germany | 2–0 | 67′ Ronaldo (Brazil); 79′ Ronaldo (Brazil) |
| 2006 | France vs. Italy (a.e.t.) | 1–1 (3–5 pens) | 7′ Zinedine Zidane (France, pen); 19′ Marco Materazzi (Italy) |
| 2010 | Netherlands vs. Spain (a.e.t.) | 0–1 | 116′ Andrés Iniesta (Spain, e.t.) |
| 2014 | Argentina vs. Germany (a.e.t.) | 0–1 | 113′ Mario Götze (Germany, e.t.) |
| 2018 | Croatia vs. France | 2–4 | 18′ Mario Mandžukić (Croatia, own goal); 28′ Ivan Perišić (Croatia); 38′ Antoine Griezmann (France, pen); 59′ Paul Pogba (France); 65′ Kylian Mbappé (France); 69′ Mario Mandžukić (Croatia) |
| 2022 | Argentina vs. France (a.e.t.) | 3–3 (4–2 pens) | 23′ Lionel Messi (Argentina, pen); 36′ Ángel Di María (Argentina); 80′ Kylian Mbappé (France); 81′ Kylian Mbappé (France); 108′ Lionel Messi (Argentina, e.t.); 118′ Kylian Mbappé (France, pen, e.t.) |
2026 FIFA World Cup — Who Could Join the Record Books?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup — co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — will be the largest in tournament history, featuring 48 nations for the first time. More teams mean more matches, more paths to the final, and more opportunities for elite strikers to write their names into football history.
The all-time record of most goals in a World Cup final is as contested as it has ever been. Several players entering 2026 have the ability, the age, and the pedigree to score in — or even dominate — a World Cup final. Here is who to watch.
Kylian Mbappé: France
The all-time record holder with 4 World Cup final goals. At 27 in 2026, he enters his prime years. A goal in the 2026 final would extend his record into territory that may never be matched.
Vinicius Jr.: Brazil
Brazil’s most dangerous attacking weapon. Should the five-time champions reach the final, Vinicius Jr.’s pace and finishing make him one of the most likely players to add to the all-time final scorers list.
Harry Kane: England
England’s all-time top scorer has never won a major trophy. The 2026 tournament, possibly his last World Cup, gives him one final chance to score on the biggest stage — and join Geoff Hurst in England’s World Cup final folklore.
Lamine Yamal: Spain
The teenage sensation will be just 19 at the 2026 tournament. Spain are among the favourites, and Yamal’s electrifying form suggests he could become the next teenage scorer in a World Cup final — echoing Pelé’s 1958 moment.
Lionel Messi: Argentina
At 38, Messi’s participation in 2026 is uncertain — but if Argentina’s reigning champion reaches the final again and Messi plays, a goal would add a remarkable final chapter to the greatest career in football history.
FAQ — Most Goals in a World Cup Final
Who scored the most goals in a World Cup final?
In a single final match, Geoff Hurst (1966) and Kylian Mbappé (2022) share the record with 3 goals each — making them the only two players in history to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup final. Across all finals combined, Mbappé holds the all-time record with 4 World Cup final goals (1 in 2018, 3 in 2022).
Has anyone ever scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final?
Yes — but only twice in history. Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick for England against West Germany in the 1966 final (4–2). Kylian Mbappé became the second player to achieve this in the 2022 final against Argentina, scoring three times despite France losing on penalties. No other player has come close to matching this feat in a single final.
How many goals did Kylian Mbappé score in World Cup finals?
Mbappé has scored 4 goals across two World Cup finals — 1 goal in the 2018 final (France 4–2 Croatia) and 3 goals in the 2022 final (France 3–3 Argentina, lost on penalties). His hat-trick in 2022 made him just the second player ever to score three goals in a single World Cup final. His total of 4 final goals is an all-time record no other player has reached.
Did Pelé score in World Cup finals?
Yes. Pelé scored in two World Cup finals: he netted twice in the 1958 final against Sweden (aged 17, Brazil won 5–2) and once in the 1970 final against Italy (Brazil won 4–1). His 1958 performance is considered one of the most remarkable debut final performances ever, as he became one of the youngest players to score in a World Cup final.
How many goals did Zinedine Zidane score in World Cup finals?
Zinedine Zidane scored 3 goals across two World Cup final appearances. He scored a brace (two headers) in the 1998 final as France beat Brazil 3–0, and converted a Panenka penalty in the 2006 final against Italy — a match France lost on penalties after Zidane was famously sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi in extra time.
Who is Vavá and why is he on this list?
Vavá (full name Edvaldo Izídio Neto) was a Brazilian striker who scored in consecutive World Cup finals — against Sweden in 1958 and against Czechoslovakia in 1962 — winning both. He is one of only two players (alongside Pelé) to have scored in two separate World Cup finals as part of a champion team. Despite his extraordinary record, Vavá is often overlooked compared to his famous Brazilian teammates.
Which country has produced the most World Cup final goal scorers?
Brazil leads with two players on the all-time multi-goal list — Pelé (2 goals) and Vavá (2 goals). France is close behind, with Zinedine Zidane (3 goals total) and Kylian Mbappé (4 goals total). England has one player — Geoff Hurst — who holds the single-match hat-trick record. No other country has contributed a player to the all-time multi-goal list.
What is the record for most goals scored in a single World Cup final match?
The record for most goals by one player in a single World Cup final is 3 goals, achieved by Geoff Hurst in 1966 and equalled by Kylian Mbappé in 2022. The highest-scoring final overall is the 1954 final (West Germany 3–2 Hungary) and the 2022 final (Argentina 3–3 France, Argentina won on penalties). The 2022 final produced 6 goals in 90 minutes plus extra time — the most in any World Cup final in the modern era.
Did Lionel Messi score in the World Cup final?
Yes. Lionel Messi scored twice in the 2022 World Cup final against France — a penalty in the first half and a goal in extra time. Argentina won on penalties. He also appeared in the 2014 final (Argentina lost to Germany 1–0 in extra time) but did not score. Messi’s two goals in the 2022 final make him a notable absence from the all-time multi-scorer list only because he scored in one final, not multiple.
Why is it so rare to score multiple goals in a World Cup final?
Several factors make it exceptionally rare. Both finalists are defensively elite, having navigated seven knockout-or-group matches. The psychological pressure suppresses risk-taking. There is also a small-sample-size reality: only 22 World Cup finals have ever been played, meaning even the greatest strikers may never reach one. Of those who have appeared in finals, only 5 players across the entire history of the tournament have ever scored more than once. The odds are simply stacked against any individual achieving this record.
The Most Exclusive Club in Football
Across more than 90 years of FIFA World Cup football, only five players have ever scored more than one goal in a World Cup final.
That statistic alone tells you everything about how rare, how pressurised, and how extraordinary these performances truly are.
Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick in 1966 defined an era and a nation. Pelé’s goals across two finals confirmed his status as the sport’s greatest ever player.
Vavá’s back-to-back final goals remain one of the most underappreciated records in football history.
Zinedine Zidane combined brilliance in 1998 with heartbreak in 2006. And Kylian Mbappé — with four World Cup final goals across two tournaments — now sits alone at the top of the all-time list.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, a new generation of strikers has the chance to join this exclusive group.
Whether Mbappé extends his own record, or an unexpected name emerges from the chaos of a 48-team tournament, one thing is certain: the next player to score multiple goals in a FIFA World Cup final will earn their place among football’s all-time greats.
The stage is set. The record stands. And somewhere in the world right now, the next name on this list is already training for their moment.
