Players who scored the most goals at the FIFA World Cup in 2022
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar produced a thrilling goalscoring contest, ultimately won by France's Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot with 8 goals, edging Argentina's Lionel Messi (7 goals) in one of the closest top-scorer races in World Cup history. The two superstars entered the final level on 5 goals each, setting up a dramatic finale in which Mbappe scored a hat-trick - though Messi's Argentina ultimately won on penalties after a 3-3 draw, one of the greatest World Cup finals ever played. The market values of these star scorers are in our World Cup 2022 player market value analysis.
Behind the top two, Argentina's Julian Alvarez and France's Olivier Giroud each scored 4 goals, with a cluster of players on 3 including Marcus Rashford, Alvaro Morata, Enner Valencia, Goncalo Ramos, Cody Gakpo, Richarlison, and Bukayo Saka. The tournament as a whole was the highest-scoring 32-team World Cup ever, with 172 goals across 64 matches at an average of 2.69 per game. The squad values of the teams these scorers represented are in our World Cup 2022 squad market value analysis.
The goalscoring stories defined the tournament's narrative: Mbappe's emergence as the heir to football's throne, Messi's crowning achievement, Giroud becoming France's all-time top scorer, and Alvarez announcing himself as a world-class striker at just 22. The all-time World Cup scoring records that these performances added to are in our all-time World Cup top scorers analysis.
World Cup 2022 Top Goal Scorers - Full List
| Rank | Player | Nation | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kylian Mbappe | France | 8 goals |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 7 goals |
| 3 | Julian Alvarez | Argentina | 4 goals |
| 4 | Olivier Giroud | France | 4 goals |
| 5 | Marcus Rashford | England | 3 goals |
| 6 | Alvaro Morata | Spain | 3 goals |
| 7 | Enner Valencia | Ecuador | 3 goals |
| 8 | Goncalo Ramos | Portugal | 3 goals |
| 9 | Cody Gakpo | Netherlands | 3 goals |
| 10 | Richarlison | Brazil | 3 goals |
| 11 | Bukayo Saka | England | 3 goals |
The list is headed by the two superstars - Mbappe (8) and Messi (7) - who pulled clear of the rest of the field. Below them, the goals were spread widely, with nine players sharing the 3-to-4-goal range. This distribution reflected an open tournament in which many teams found the net, rather than one dominated by a single prolific striker. In total, more than 170 different scoring moments were spread across the 32 teams, a sign of how competitive and attacking the football was. Even traditionally defensive sides contributed to the goal tally, and several group-stage matches produced high-scoring upsets that set the tone for an entertaining tournament. The player valuations behind these scorers are in our World Cup 2022 player market value analysis.
Mbappe, Messi, and the Chasing Pack - Goals Ranked
The chart shows how Mbappe and Messi dominated the scoring charts, separated from the chasing pack by a clear margin. The dense cluster of players on 3 goals - drawn from England, Spain, Ecuador, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Brazil - illustrated how evenly goals were distributed among the rest of the field. The win probabilities of these teams are in our World Cup winner probability analysis.
The Golden Boot Race - How Mbappe Edged Messi
The Golden Boot race was one of the tightest ever. Both Mbappe and Messi entered the final level on 5 goals. Messi scored first in the final and added a second in extra time to reach 7, but Mbappe's extraordinary hat-trick took him to 8, securing the Golden Boot. Crucially, the award is decided on goals before assists - had it been level on goals, Messi's extra assist (3 vs 2) would have given it to him. The all-time scoring records this race contributed to are in our all-time World Cup top scorers analysis.
Kylian Mbappe's 8 Goals - The Golden Boot Run
Kylian Mbappe's path to the Golden Boot showcased his status as football's pre-eminent attacker. The France forward scored in the group stage and knockouts before producing one of the greatest individual displays in a World Cup final, scoring a hat-trick against Argentina. It was the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst's for England in 1966 - yet remarkably, France still lost the final on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
At just 23, Mbappe had now scored 12 World Cup goals across two tournaments (4 in 2018, 8 in 2022), having already won the trophy in 2018. His 8-goal haul in 2022 equalled the highest single-tournament total since Ronaldo's 8 in 2002, and confirmed him as the natural successor to Messi and Ronaldo at the summit of the game. His combined World Cup goal exploits add to the all-time records in our all-time World Cup top scorers analysis.
Lionel Messi's 7 Goals - The Crowning Glory
Lionel Messi's 7 goals were the centrepiece of the crowning achievement of his career. At 35, in his fifth and final World Cup, Messi scored in every knockout round - the round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, and final - dragging Argentina to glory. He won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, a fitting individual honour to accompany the team triumph he had craved since his debut in 2006.
Messi's tournament was historic in many ways: he became the first player to score in the group stage, round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, and final of a single World Cup, and his overall World Cup goal tally reached 13 across five tournaments, surpassing Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta. The team's prize for winning is detailed in our FIFA World Cup prize money analysis.
Goals by Nation - France and Argentina Lead the Way
The two finalists were also the two highest-scoring teams: France netted 16 goals and Argentina 15 on their way to the final. England (13) and Portugal (12) also scored freely despite exiting earlier, reflecting attacking styles. This correlation between goalscoring and deep tournament runs was strong in 2022, though not absolute - defensive organisation also carried teams like Croatia and Morocco far. Morocco, in particular, reached the semi-finals while scoring relatively few goals, relying instead on a resolute defence that conceded just once in open play before the semi-final. The teams' confederations are broken down in our FIFA World Cup teams by confederation analysis.
172 Goals - A Record-Breaking Tournament
The 172 goals at Qatar 2022 set a record for a 32-team World Cup, narrowly beating the 171 scored at Brazil 2014. At 2.69 goals per game across 64 matches, it was a high-scoring tournament driven by attacking football and the goalscoring of the leading nations. With the 2026 World Cup expanding to 48 teams and 104 matches, the total goal count is expected to rise significantly, though the per-game average may differ. The 2026 tournament details are in our FIFA World Cup 2026 statistics and facts analysis.
Mbappe's 8 in Historical Context - The Single-Tournament Records
Mbappe's 8 goals, while the highest at Qatar 2022, fall short of the all-time single-tournament records. The benchmark remains Just Fontaine's astonishing 13 goals for France at the 1958 World Cup - a record that has stood for over 65 years and is considered almost unbreakable in the modern game. Behind Fontaine, Hungary's Sandor Kocsis scored 11 in 1954, and Germany's Gerd Muller 10 in 1970.
Mbappe's 8 goals equalled Brazilian Ronaldo's 2002 tally, the most by any player in a single World Cup since 2002. In the modern, more defensively organised game, with sophisticated tactical systems and elite goalkeeping, reaching 8 goals in a single tournament is an exceptional achievement that few players manage. It typically requires a deep run to the final, prolific finishing, and the ability to score in the biggest matches - all of which Mbappe delivered. Mbappe's combined 12 goals across 2018 and 2022, at just 23, puts him on track to challenge the all-time aggregate World Cup scoring records held by Miroslav Klose (16) in future tournaments. The all-time list is in our all-time World Cup top scorers analysis.
Did the Most Valuable Players Score the Most Goals?
Comparing the top scorers to the tournament's most valuable players reveals an interesting overlap and divergence. Mbappe was both the top scorer (8 goals) and one of the most valuable players (EUR 185M), a rare alignment of value and output. But the most valuable player overall, Jude Bellingham (EUR 202M), scored just one goal, while Vinicius Junior (EUR 201M) scored once too - showing that high value did not guarantee goals.
The clearest example of the value-goals divergence was Olivier Giroud, who at 36 scored 4 goals to become France's all-time top scorer, yet carried a market value of only around EUR 4 million due to his age. Goalscoring rewards finishing, positioning, and big-game temperament - qualities that do not fade with age the way market value does. The full player valuations are in our World Cup 2022 player market value analysis and squad totals in our World Cup 2022 squad market value analysis.
Breakout Scorers - Alvarez, Gakpo, and the New Names
Beyond the established superstars, the 2022 World Cup launched several players into the global spotlight through their goalscoring. Argentina's Julian Alvarez was the standout breakout star: the 22-year-old Manchester City forward scored 4 goals, including two in the semi-final against Croatia, becoming the youngest player since Pele to score in a World Cup semi-final. His performances helped Argentina to the title and cemented his status as a world-class striker.
The Netherlands' Cody Gakpo was another breakout name, scoring 3 goals in the group stage to announce himself on the world stage. His displays earned him a January 2023 transfer to Liverpool. Portugal's Goncalo Ramos made a spectacular impact too: handed a rare start ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the round of 16, the 21-year-old scored a hat-trick against Switzerland - one of the tournament's most memorable individual performances.
These breakout performances reflected a broader generational shift visible across the tournament. With ageing stars like Ronaldo and Modric past their goalscoring peaks, the 2022 World Cup became a showcase for the next wave of attacking talent. Many of these players also went on to secure big-money transfers, reflecting the rising market documented in our FIFA World Cup 2026 statistics and facts analysis.
Mbappe vs Messi - The Generational Duel
The 2022 World Cup will be remembered as the stage for a symbolic passing of the torch between two generations, embodied by the Golden Boot duel between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. The two were PSG club teammates, yet faced off in the final as the leaders of their nations - Messi at 35 chasing his career-defining trophy, Mbappe at 23 already a world champion and the heir apparent to football's throne.
Their numbers told the story of the duel: Mbappe finished with 8 goals to Messi's 7, winning the Golden Boot, but Messi won the trophy and the Golden Ball. Both scored in the final - Messi twice, Mbappe three times - in a 3-3 thriller decided on penalties. It was the first time two players had scored so prolifically in a single final, and Mbappe's hat-trick on the losing side was a historic individual feat.
The duel captured the essence of the tournament: Messi's triumph was the emotional climax of a generation, while Mbappe's goalscoring announced the next era. Both players left Qatar with their legacies enhanced - Messi as a World Cup winner at last, Mbappe as the Golden Boot winner and the player most likely to dominate the coming years. The squad values behind both teams are in our World Cup 2022 squad market value analysis.
The Most Memorable Goals of World Cup 2022
Beyond the raw scoring totals, Qatar 2022 produced some of the most memorable goals in recent World Cup history. Brazil's Richarlison scored a spectacular scissor-kick volley against Serbia that was widely hailed as a goal of the tournament contender. Argentina's Enzo Fernandez curled a brilliant effort against Mexico, and Mexico's Luis Chavez scored a stunning free-kick against Saudi Arabia.
The final itself produced unforgettable goals: Mbappe's volley to make it 2-2 in the closing minutes, struck on the turn, was one of the great World Cup final goals, while Messi's calm finishes captured his big-game composure. The drama of a 3-3 final, settled on penalties, ensured that the goals of Qatar 2022 will be replayed for years - a fitting climax to a record-breaking tournament for scoring. It was, by common consent, one of the greatest World Cup finals in the competition's long history, and the perfect showcase for the tournament's attacking talent.
The variety of goals - from long-range strikes and headers to penalties and set-pieces - underlined the all-round attacking quality on display at Qatar 2022. Penalties played a notable role too, both in open play and in the shootouts that decided several knockout ties, including the final. The teams that converted their chances most efficiently tended to progress furthest, as the goalscoring data and the win probabilities in our World Cup winner probability analysis both show.
World Cup 2022 Top Scorers - Key Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions - World Cup 2022 Top Scorers
Kylian Mbappe of France, with 8 goals, winning the Golden Boot. He scored a hat-trick in the final against Argentina - the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in 1966. Lionel Messi was second with 7. Both entered the final level on 5 goals, making it one of the closest Golden Boot races ever. Source: FIFA, NBC Sports 2022.
7 goals, finishing second in the Golden Boot race behind Mbappe (8). Messi scored in every knockout round, won the Golden Ball as best player, and lifted the trophy as Argentina won. Source: FIFA, Olympics.com 2022.
172 goals across 64 matches, an average of 2.69 per game. This set a record for the most goals at a 32-team World Cup, beating the 171 scored at Brazil 2014. The 2026 World Cup, with 48 teams and 104 matches, is expected to produce far more total goals. Source: FIFA 2022.
Yes - the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in 1966. Despite Mbappe's three goals, France lost the final to Argentina on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Source: FIFA, Al Jazeera 2022.
Julian Alvarez (Argentina) and Olivier Giroud (France), each with 4 goals. Giroud became France's all-time top scorer, while the 22-year-old Alvarez became the youngest player since Pele to score in a World Cup semi-final. Source: FIFA 2022.
It equalled Ronaldo's 2002 tally, the most since then, but fell short of records. The single-tournament record is Just Fontaine's 13 (1958), followed by Sandor Kocsis (11, 1954) and Gerd Muller (10, 1970). Source: FIFA historical records.
France, with 16 goals, followed by champions Argentina (15) and England (13). The two finalists were also the two highest-scoring teams, reflecting their attacking quality. Source: FIFA 2022.
13 goals across five World Cups (2006-2022). His 7 goals in 2022 took him past Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina's all-time World Cup top scorer. He also became the first to score in every knockout round of a single tournament. Source: FIFA, Olympics.com 2022.
Yes, but only once - a penalty against Ghana, which made him the first male player to score in five different World Cups. Despite this milestone, Ronaldo managed just 1 goal as Portugal exited in the quarter-finals to Morocco, and was even dropped to the bench for the knockout games. Source: FIFA 2022.
At 2.69 goals per game, 2022 had the highest rate of recent 32-team World Cups. Attacking football from the leading nations, plus several high-scoring matches, drove the record 172 total goals across 64 matches. Source: FIFA 2022.
NBC Sports - 2022 World Cup Top Scorers and Golden Boot - Primary source for the top scorer list (Mbappe 8, Messi 7, Alvarez/Giroud 4). Published December 2022. +-0%.
Olympics.com - FIFA World Cup 2022 Golden Boot and Top Scorers - Source for Golden Boot tiebreaker (goals then assists), Messi's knockout-round scoring. Published December 2022.
Al Jazeera - 2022 World Cup Final in Numbers - Source for Mbappe's final hat-trick (first since 1966), final scoreline and penalties. Published December 2022.
FIFA - Qatar 2022 Tournament Statistics - Source for total goals (172), matches (64), goals per game (2.69), goals by nation. Published December 2022. +-0%.
