The World Cup 2026 final is set, with European champions Spain taking on holders Argentina at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this Sunday evening.
It is the biggest single match in football – indeed sport as a whole – and presents the opportunity for players to secure legendary status.
Who will write their name into the history books this time around?
Before that question is answered, let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at the top names in the World Cup final scoring charts…
Kylian Mbappe (France) – 4 goals
Mbappe is the leading scorer in World Cup finals, though he and his France team are not part of the 2026 edition. The Real Madrid superstar netted in the 2018 finale as a teenager, helping Les Bleus claim a 4-2 victory over Croatia. Four years later, Mbappe became only the second player to net a hat-trick in a final, though his efforts were all for nothing as France lost on penalties to Argentina following the most thrilling of 3-3 draws after extra-time.
Geoff Hurst (England) – 3 goals
Up until Mbappe’s virtuoso display at Qatar 2022, England icon Hurst was the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. His effort came in the 1966 edition at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London. Hurst opened the scoring in just the 12th minute of play, but then had to wait until extra-time to bag his final two goals. One of the strikes is still hotly debated to this very day, and we may never know whether it really did cross the line or not.
Vava (Brazil) – 3 goals
Vava is widely regarded as one of Brazil’s greatest-ever strikers, helping the nation win back-to-back World Cups in 1958 and 1962. After falling 1-0 behind to Sweden in 1958, Vava scored Brazil’s first two goals on the way to securing a 5-2 win. The forward then netted the Selecao’s vital third in the 3-1 victory over Czechoslovakia four years later.
Pele (Brazil) – 3 goals
Three-time World Cup winner Pele scored twice in the 1958 final at the age of just 17, the youngest player to ever achieve the feat – a record that should stand the test of time. Pele sadly missed the 1962 final due to injury, but was back on the biggest stage as part of an iconic Brazil team in 1970. He opened the scoring at the Azteca Stadium final vs Italy with a fantastic leaping header, as the South Americans went on to claim a memorable 4-1 victory in the Mexican heat.
Zinedine Zidane (France) – 3 goals
Zidane was the inspiration behind France’s maiden World Cup victory on home soil in 1998. The elegant midfielder powered home two first-half headers in the 3-0 triumph over Brazil, and was on the scoresheet again eight years later. Zidane struck from the penalty spot in the 2006 final vs Italy, though his performance in that game is best remembered for his headbutt on Marco Materazzi, which resulted in a straight red card. France went on to lose in the penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
Which other players have scored multiple World Cup final goals?
Gino Colaussi (Italy), Silvio Piola (Italy), Helmut Rahn (West Germany), Mario Kempes (Argentina), Paul Breitner (West Germany), Ronaldo Nazario (Brazil) and Lionel Messi (Argetina) have all scored two goals in World Cup finals. Will Messi add to his tally on Sunday evening in New Jersey?
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