Qatar World Cup 2022 statistics: Golden Boot race , most assists and most cards
The group stage is nearing its conclusion, so here are the tournament’s statistics.
32 teams began their quest for World Cup victory, but by this evening, that number will have been reduced to 16. This is the most significant statistic, but there are many more as well. Here are the Qatar FIFA World Cup in numbers (so far).
Most team goals scored
England is the squad that has scored the most goals thus far with a total of nine, including six in an amazing opening victory over Iran.
The race for the Golden Boot
Ronaldo became the first player to score in five successive World Cups when he scored a penalty kick in Portugal’s opening 3-2 victory over Ghana. Despite his protests to the contrary, he did not score in his team’s 2-0 victory over Uruguay and is therefore not in the hunt for the Golden Boot.
Four are now in the lead for the gong. England’s Marcus Rashford, Holland’s Cody Gakpo, and France’s Kylian Mbappe all have three goals, as does Ecuador’s Enner Valencia, who will not be able to add to his score due to his team’s elimination from the tournament.
Fastest goal
Alphonso Davies has been the most alert after the ref’s whistle so far, scoring after just one minute and eight seconds during Canada’s 4-1 defeat to Croatia.
Ironically, it took Morocco only five minutes to score their first goal against Canada. The goal was the second-fastest in this World Cup tournament.
The next fastest goal comes a full seven minutes later, a Craig Goodwin strike for Australia against France on eight minutes 24 seconds. We’ve still two weeks to go but it will take so doing to knock the Canadian off the top of the rankings.
Most assists
Harry Kane entered Qatar as a favorite to win the Golden Boot, but after assisting Rashford and Raheem Sterling in England’s 6-2 victory over Iran and Phil Foden’s goal in England’s 2-0 victory against Wales, he currently leads the Qatar assist race with three.
Playing more as a false nine than an out-and-out striker, it will come as no surprise if he adds to his score in the knockout rounds, although Gareth Southgate will likely prefer him to finish opportunities rather than create them.
Most clean sheets
Eleven teams currently lead the battle for efficiency with two clean sheets each. Friday’s match between Brazil and Cameroon is the only opportunity for a team to make it three in a row.
Most yellow and red cards
On Monday, during South Korea’s match against Uruguay, Paulo Bento became the first coach in World Cup history to receive a red card.
The only other red card has been handed to Wayne Hennessey of Wales, who was sent in the final 10 minutes of his team’s 2-0 loss against Iran last Friday. England and Brazil are the only teams without a yellow card.
Most penalties conceded
No team has thus far conceded more than a single penalty, indicating that everyone has been generally respectful within their own penalty area. Undoubtedly, managers of clubs that have advanced to the knockout round will hope that the lack of reckless tackles in the area continues.
Most penalties won
One was scored in the opening encounter against Ghana, and the other was scored late in the victory over Uruguay. Ronaldo scored the first goal, but teammate Bruno Fernandes scored the second after the clubless player was replaced.
Qatar World Cup 2022 statistics: Golden Boot race , most assists and most cards
