Most World Cup wins by player: Where Lionel Messi ranks on list of all-time FIFA champions

Year in and year out, the World Cup gifts the world some of the greatest players to touch the pitch. This year, some players have the chance to add their name to the list of players to win the competition multiple times.

Prior to their bout against Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, Lionel Messi and a large number of his Argentinian squad have the chance to perform a tournament double after their win in 2022. 

The list of multiple winners hasn't been added to since Ronaldo Nazario and Cafu did in 2002 with Brazil. Along with his name, the top to bottom of the multiple winners list has a lot of all-time greats of the sport.

Here's where the Argentine ranks for most World Cup titles all-time.

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Which player has won the most World Cup titles?

At the moment, Brazilian legend Pele tops the charts with three World Cup wins. His first title came when he was only 17 years old and he became the youngest player to ever take part in a World Cup Final. He scored a double against host nation Sweden en route to a 5-2 victory.

Many other players on this list were on Pele's Brazilian sides who saw victories. In fact, only seven players on the following list did not play with the Pele-led Brazil.

Here's a look at the list of players who have won two or more World Cups throughout their careers:

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How many World Cups has Pele won?

• World Cups won: 3
• Years: 1958, 1962, 1970
• World Cup Final opponents: Sweden (1958), Czechoslovakia (1962), Italy (1970)
• No. of World Cup goals: 12

Pele is the most prolific winner in World Cup history, yet his place atop the rankings is slightly questioned. One of the game's earliest best players was a magician on the pitch during his World Cup debut in Stockholm in 1958, even emerging as the sport's best player at the measly age of 17. He collected six goals in his tournament, and the world learned just how dangerous No. 10 on Brazil was.

In 1962, Pele opened his next World Cup campaign in similar form, before falling victim to an injury in his second match that would sideline him for the remainder of the tournament. In his absence, fellow Brazilian star Garrincha emerged as a leader and led Brazil to repeat World Cup titles.

At that time, only players who appeared in World Cup finals were granted championship medals, meaning Pele wasn't originally considered a World Cup champion for that year. FIFA changed its rules in 1978, with medals given to any member of the playing squad. Pele was retroactively made a member of the 1962 Cup-winning side.

Pele returned to the national side in 1970 after vowing to never play in the competition following a controversial loss to Portugal in the 1966 tournament. He displayed his greatness at the Azteca Stadium, bagging four goals. His header against Italy in the final became his most iconic as he leapt high before rifling the ball into the back of the net. A known big-game player, Pele tacked on two assists in the final as Brazil walked out 4-1 winners over Gli Azzurri. He was summarily named the tournament's Golden Ball winner for the second time in his career.

How many World Cups has Lionel Messi won?

• World Cups won: 1
• Years: 2022
• World Cup Final opponents: France
• No. of World Cup goals: 21

Lionel Messi is football's greatest-ever talent. He has tended to perform at his best during the World Cup, with his shots crossing the goal-line 21 times across six tournaments.

Messi and Argentina fell just short of a World Cup crown in 2014, losing in extra time to Germany, courtesy of a late goal by Mario Gotze in Brazil.

"La Pulga" found more success in the 2022 campaign. He scored seven goals, which ranked as the tournament's second-highest tally. During the final match against France, Messi struck twice through a first-half penalty and an extra-time rebound. He also scored in the penalty shootout just prior to Argentina claiming their first World Cup title since 1986 in what many regard as the greatest game in soccer history. Messi was awarded the Golden Ball for his efforts, becoming the only player to receive the award twice.

In 2026, the "Little Boy From Rosario" added another eight goals to his already-impressive tally before Argentina took on Spain in the final. Despite turning 39 years old during the 2026 tournament, Messi proved age had little impact on how strong a player he is. In the first match of his latest campaign, Messi scored his first hat-trick at the World Cup against Algeria, which showed the world what they had been missing between World Cups.

How many World Cups has Ronaldo won?

• World Cups won: 2
• Years: 1994, 2002
• World Cup Final opponents: Italy (1994), Germany (2002)
• No. of World Cup goals: 15

Ronaldo Nazario from Brazil -- different from Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal -- was an integral part of one of the strongest Brazilian squads in national team history. His team took home the 1994 World Cup title, while he was only 17 years old and still seeking to gain his first World Cup minutes. Despite seeking playing time, the fact that he earned a spot on as high-quality a roster Brazil had meant that his dominance was imminent.

That breakthrough came in 1998, when Ronaldo, also dubbed "O Fenomeno" for his strength and lethalness around the box, led Brazil to the final. He added four goals to his tournament tally and appeared destined to lead A Selecao to glory against France. However, an illness robbed him of his normal capabilities, and Brazil fell 3-0 to a strong French side.

Ronaldo finally earned his World Cup double at the 2002 tournament. He scored eight goals in the competition, including a duo in the final, as Brazil emerged victorious against Oliver Kahn and Germany 2-0.

How many World Cups has Kylian Mbappe won?

• World Cups won: 1
• Years: 2018
• World Cup Final opponent: Croatia
• No. of World Cup goals: 20

At 27 years old, Kylian Mbappe is still in the prime of his career. The center forward already has the second-most World Cup goals ever to his name, and with Messi most likely retiring from the competition soon, the record looks to be French in a few years. Mbappe made his World Cup debut in 2018, starring for France as they dominated en route to a 4-2 win over Croatia in the final.

Mbappe scored six goals in that tournament. He is one of two players to reach that mark as a teenager. The other player, whose name appeared earlier on this list, was Pele in 1958.

The current Real Madrid star added to his legacy with a standout campaign in the 2022 tournament, totaling a tournament-high eight goals with a hat-trick in the final, as Les Bleus finished as 2022 tournament runner-ups.

At the 2026 tournament, Mbappe yet again proved his talents as one of the top goalscorers in the world through another eight-goal campaign. France fell in the semifinal match, however, and Mbappe's World Cup count remains at one for the time being.

Most World Cup appearances without a championship

Italy's Paolo Maldini owns the unfortunate bit of history that is the most World Cup appearances without winning a trophy. While he has been retired since 2009, Maldini is still regarded as one of the greatest defenders in football history. Maldini made 23 appearances for Gli Azzurri across four World Cups. Italy was unable to hoist a trophy during his time on the defensive prowl, and fell to Brazil on penalties during the 1994 tournament.

After the 2002 tournament, when Italy was controversially eliminated by co-host South Korea, Maldini retired from international play. Gli Azzurri went on to win the 2006 competition, beating a highly-touted French squad in penalties.