Football: World Cup 2022 Top Players, by number of goals scored
PlayerNumber of goals scored
Kylian Mbappé (France)8
Lionel Messi (Argentina)7
Julián Álvarez (Argentina)4
Olivier Giroud (France)4
Gonçalo Ramos (Portugal)3
Álvaro Morata (Spain)3
Richarlison (Brazil)3
Marcus Rashford (England)3
Enner Valencia (Ecuador)3
Bukayo Saka (England)3
Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)3
  • Region: Worldwide
  • Time period: Nov 20 to Dec 18, 2022
  • Published: Dec 2022

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Mar 27, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

Kylian Mbappé leads in goals scored

Kylian Mbappé (France) tops the chart with a total of 8 goals, outpacing Lionel Messi (Argentina) who follows closely with 7 goals.

Argentina and France players dominate the top

Players from Argentina and France are prominent among the highest scorers, with two players from each country in the top four: Kylian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud for France, and Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez for Argentina, combining for a total of 23 goals.

Goals distribution among leading scorers

The data reveals a significant drop in goals scored from the second to the third highest scorers, with Messi scoring 7 goals and the next tier (Julián Álvarez and Olivier Giroud) each scoring 4 goals.

Diversity in national representation

The list of top scorers showcases a diverse representation from 8 different countries, highlighting the global talent present in the tournament.

The magic number 3

A significant number of players, specifically 6 out of 11, scored exactly 3 goals each, indicating a common high-performance threshold for top scorers beyond the leaders.

England's balanced attack

England boasts having 2 players (Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka) among the leading scorers, each contributing 3 goals, showcasing the team's balanced scoring capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who leads the chart with the highest number of goals scored?

Kylian Mbappé from France leads the chart with a total of 8 goals.

Which countries' players prominently feature among the highest scorers?

Players from Argentina and France are prominent among the highest scorers, combining for a total of 23 goals.

Terms and Definitions

The World Cup is an international football competition organized by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). It is held every four years and involves teams from all over the world. The tournament is one of the most prestigious and widely viewed sporting events in the world.

In football, a goal scorer is a player who successfully shoots the ball into the opponent's goal during a match, thus scoring a point for his or her team. The player is awarded a goal for each of these successful attempts.

The leading goal scorer, often referred to as the top scorer, is a player who has scored the most goals in a football competition, including regular games, tournaments, or specific seasons. In World Cup terms, it is the footballer who has scored the most goals across all World Cup tournaments.

A hat trick in football is when a player scores three goals in a single game. This is a notable achievement in the sport and is often highlighted and celebrated.

The Golden Boot or Golden Shoe Award is given by FIFA to the top goal scorer of the World Cup tournament. The award is presented after the conclusion of the tournament.

An own goal is a term in football when a player accidentally scores a goal into their own net, effectively scoring for the opposing team. For statistical purposes, own goals are usually not counted in a player's individual scoring records.

FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) is the international governing body of football, futsal and beach soccer. It organizes and oversees international competitions, including the World Cup.

A penalty shootout is a method used in football to decide a match that has ended in a draw after extra time. Players take turns to take shots at the opponent's goal from the penalty mark, and the team that scores the most goals out of a specified number of attempts wins.

Extra time is a period that is added to the regular duration of a football match to decide a winner if the game has ended in a draw. Traditionally, it consists of two halves of 15 minutes each. Goals scored during this time count towards the final result.