Who Are The Highest Scoring Players For The Top 11 FIFA World Cup Favorites?

Trying to figure out what goalscorer bets to place during the 2026 World Cup? You’re in luck, as we’ve ranked the most decorated goal scorers on each of the top 11 betting favorites’ rosters for the 23rd edition of the iconic international soccer tournament.

What you’ll notice about this list is that many of the countries top all-time leading goal scorers as on their 2026 World Cup rosters.

While these players are undeniably world class talents — some even pantheon generational players in the sport at large — it also speaks to the fact that they’ve simply played in more international games than their predecessors as the global football calendar has steadily increased over the decades.

Here are the leading goal scorers on each of the Top 11 betting favorites at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

11. Colombia (+5000) – James Rodriguez, 31 goals
Colombia’s second all-time leading goal scorer

James Rodriguez, who scored one of the most iconic World Cup goals of all time back in 2014, made Colombia’s roster in 2026 despite scoring just five goals in Liga MX in 2024 and 2025, and now playing for Minnesota United in MLS.

Rodirguez hasn’t played at the top level of club football since his stint with Bayern Munich in 2018/19, and has since bounced around to Everton, Al-Rayyan (Qatar), Olympiacos (Greece), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Rayo Vallecano (Spain), Leon (Mexico), and Minnesota United.

If you’re looking for a goal scorer to bet on while watching Colombia matches, Luis Diaz — the Bayern Munich winger who’s the nation’s third all-time leading scorer with 22 goals — is a far better wager.

10. Belgium (+4000) – Romelu Lukaku, 90 goals
Belgium’s top all-time leading goal scorer

An oft-selected “dark horse” in previous international tournaments, this is truly the last stand for Belgium’s “golden generation.” Eden Hazard and Vincent Kompany have been retired for a few years now, while former stalwart centerbacks Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are now in their late 30s and were not selected to the World Cup roster.

Captain Kevin De Bruyne remains on the team, but he’s now 34 years old and is coming off an injury-shortened season. All-time leading scorer Romelu Lukaku, 33 years old, remains on the squad and is expected to start at the World Cup, but is nowhere near as effective as he once was, having made just five appearances and scoring one goal for Napoli this season.

9. Norway (+3000) – Erling Haaland, 55 goals
Norway’s top all-time leading goal scorer

Norway is a surprising top 10 favorite entering the 2026 World Cup for Arsenal captain and midfielder Martin Odegaard, and the capacity of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland to become an unstoppable force.

Norway find themselves in one of the World Cup’s more difficult groups, though, with matches against Iraq, Senegal, and France. If they’re going to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament, they’re going to need Haaland to be banging in the goals.

8. Netherlands (+2000) – Memphis Depay, 55 goals
Netherlands top all-time leading goal scorer

As evidenced by his status as the nation’s all-time leading scorer, Memphis Depay has been an accomplished servant for the Dutch national team since making his senior debut in 2013. Unfortunately for the Netherlands, however, Depay’s best days are clearly in his rearview mirror, as he’s spent the last three seasons playing for Corinthians in Brazil and has scored just 14 league goals in that time.

Despite this, Depay is expected to be a starter for the Dutch at the 2026 World Cup, which is perhaps why they aren’t one of the top five betting favorites entering the tournament — while their defense and midfield is on par with the rest of the world’s elite, their forward line is simply lacking World Class talent.

7. Germany (+1400) – Kai Havertz, 22 goals
Germany’s 24th all-time leading goal scorer

Miroslav Klose, Germany’s all time top goal scorer, is long retired. Lukas Podolski, third all-time with 49 goals, retired earlier this year at 41-years-old. Thomas Muller, seventh all-time, remains active in MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps, but he retired from international football following the Euro 2024 tournament.

Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry, 17th all-time with 26 goals for the German National Team, would’ve been the nation’s top scorer at this year’s World Cup had he not torn the abductor muscle in his right thigh back in April, causing him to miss out on the tournament.

Thus, Germany’s leading scorer entering the 2026 World Cup is Arsenal forward Kai Havertz, who is neither a true #9 nor a classic #10.

6. Argentina (+1000) – Lionel Messi, 117 goals
Argentina’s top all-time leading goal scorer

The GOAT is back to defend his title and, based on his highlights from a friendly against Iceland earlier this week, looks as dangerous as ever despite being 38-years-old.

At the 2022 World Cup, Messi — aided by being Argentina’s penalty taker, which is true of most of the players on this list — was the second-highest scoring player at the tournament with seven goals.

Lionel Messi Vs Iceland

Ready for the World Cup.pic.twitter.com/mQ5lHzCnt9

— Λ 🇵🇸 (@TotalLM10i) June 10, 2026

5. Brazil (+950) – Neymar, 79 goals
Brazil’s top all-time leading goal scorer

Neymar, now 34 years old and playing in Brazil, was one of the “feel good” stories in the lead up to the 2026 World Cup as he fought his way back from injury ravaged years — he tore his ACL in October 2023, suffered multiple hamstring injuries in 2024 and 2025, and had knee surgery back in December — to be selected to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.

The fairytale may end there, though, with recent reports indicating he’s set to miss Brazil’s first match and could be sidelined for the entirety of the group stage due to injury.

Even if Neymar was fit, however, he likely wouldn’t see much playing time anyway as Vinicius Jr. is entrenched as the team’s starting left winger.

4. Portugal (+800) – Cristiano Ronaldo, 143 goals
Portugal’s top all-time leading goal scorer

While Ronaldo — not only Portugal’s all-time leading scorer but the highest-scorer in the history of international football — is set to lead the line for his nation at the 2026 World Cup, that may prove to be more of a hindrance than an advantage.

The 41-year-old has been able to maintain his goal scoring prowess while playing in the Saudi league, but on the international stage, he simply looks far passed his best, with his performance in a friendly against Chile over the weekend going viral for all the wrong reasons, with the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star fluffing a series of relatively routine chances.

I’ll actually still in tears man, Portugal have a great team but this homelander might ironically be their downfall 😭 https://t.co/WtBAn0tnfm

— Mod (@CFCMods) June 7, 2026

3. England (+750) – Harry Kane, 79 goals
England’s top all-time leading goal scorer

As goes Harry Kane, so goes England. Arguably the most dominant player in the world this past club season, Kane racked up a whopping 61 goals this season, leading Bayern Munich to yet another Bundesliga title.

England have been knocking at the door of greatness on the international stage over the last decade, reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, the finals of the 2020 and 2024 Euros, and the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup (where they lost to France).

If England are going to get over the line at the 2026 World Cup, it’s going to be because of Kane.

2. France (+475) – Kylian Mbappe, 56 goals
France’s second all-time leading goal scorer

Kylian Mbappe enters the 2026 World Cup at an odd stage in his career. While he remains one of the most talented players on the planet, his reputation has been dented by his lack of effort on the defensive end, the fact that PSG have won two consecutive Champions League titles since his departure, and the apparent soap opera upheaval that’s followed him to Real Madrid.

Still, France are arguably the most talented and complete squad at the World Cup and Mbappe is the betting favorite to win the Golden Boot, which is given to the tournament’s highest goal scorer.

1. Spain (+450) – Mikel Oyarzabal, 25 goals
Spain’s ninth all-time leading goal scorer

What makes Spain’s status as defending European champions and betting favorites even more remarkable is that their active leading scorer, Mikel Oyarzabal, is a 29-year-old one-club-man from Real Sociedad that most casual soccer fans have never even heard of.

What Oyarzabal — who scored the winning goal in Spain’s 2-1 win over England in the 2024 Euro Final — does have going for him, though, is he seems to be a more effective striker for his country than his club. Since Spain won the 2024 Euro, Oyarzabal has 12 goals and six assists in 15 appearances, versus just 12 goals and three assists in his last 23 league games for Real Sociedad.