The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar delivered unforgettable moments, dramatic upsets, and one of the greatest finals in football history. While Argentina lifted the trophy after defeating France, fans around the world were equally captivated by the battle among the tournament’s top goalscorers.
So, who scored the most goals in the World Cup 2022?
The answer is Kylian Mbappé. The French superstar finished as the leading scorer at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 with eight goals. Lionel Messi followed closely with seven goals, while Julián Álvarez and Olivier Giroud scored four goals each.
The race between Mbappé and Messi remained alive until the final, making Qatar 2022 one of the most memorable World Cups in recent history.
Kylian Mbappé Scored the Most Goals at World Cup 2022
Kylian Mbappé entered the tournament as one of football’s brightest stars, and he lived up to expectations by producing one of the finest individual campaigns in World Cup history. The France forward scored eight goals in seven appearances, becoming the first player since Ronaldo Nazário in 2002 to score eight goals in a single World Cup.
Kylian Mbappé’s Goal Breakdown
Mbappé scored in every stage from the group phase to the final, delivering some of the tournament’s most memorable performances. Here’s a match-by-match breakdown of his eight goals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup:
| Match | Stage | Goals |
| France vs Australia | Group Stage | 1 |
| France vs Denmark | Group Stage | 2 |
| France vs Poland | Round of 16 | 2 |
| France vs England | Quarter-final | 1 |
| France vs Argentina | Final | 3 |
| Total | 8 |
Mbappé started his campaign with a goal against Australia before scoring twice against Denmark to secure France’s place in the knockout rounds. He then produced a brilliant display against Poland in the Round of 16, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory. Another goal against England helped France reach the semi-finals.
However, his defining moment came in the final against Argentina. Trailing 2-0, France looked out of the game before Mbappé scored twice within 97 seconds to force extra time. He later converted another penalty in extra time to complete a historic hat-trick. His three goals in the final made him only the second player, after Geoff Hurst in 1966, to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup final.
Read More: Golden Boot World Cup 2022 and Top Goal Scorers
Top Goal Scorers in the FIFA World Cup 2022
Several players delivered standout attacking performances during the tournament, but Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi finished well ahead of the rest. Here’s a look at the top goal scorers from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar:
| Rank | Player | Country | Goals |
| 1 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 8 |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 7 |
| 3 | Julián Álvarez | Argentina | 4 |
| 4 | Olivier Giroud | France | 4 |
| 5 | Cody Gakpo | Netherlands | 3 |
| 6 | Gonçalo Ramos | Portugal | 3 |
| 7 | Álvaro Morata | Spain | 3 |
| 8 | Marcus Rashford | England | 3 |
| 9 | Bukayo Saka | England | 3 |
| 10 | Richarlison | Brazil | 3 |
| 11 | Enner Valencia | Ecuador | 3 |
| 12 | Mohammed Kudus | Ghana | 3 |
Lionel Messi Finished Second with Seven Goals
Although Lionel Messi finished one goal behind Mbappé, he achieved something even bigger by leading Argentina to their third World Cup title. Messi scored seven goals and provided three assists during the tournament. He also won the Golden Ball as the best player of the competition.
Lionel Messi’s Goal Breakdown
Messi delivered a remarkably consistent campaign in Qatar, scoring in both the group stage and every knockout round on Argentina’s way to the title. Here’s a match-by-match breakdown of his seven goals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup:
| Match | Stage | Goals |
| Argentina vs Saudi Arabia | Group Stage | 1 |
| Argentina vs Mexico | Group Stage | 1 |
| Argentina vs Australia | Round of 16 | 1 |
| Argentina vs Netherlands | Quarter-final | 1 |
| Argentina vs Croatia | Semi-final | 1 |
| Argentina vs France | Final | 2 |
| Total | 7 |
After Argentina’s shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening game, Messi responded with a spectacular goal against Mexico that revived his country’s campaign. He then scored in every knockout round, becoming the first player in history to score in the group stage, Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final in a single FIFA World Cup.
His two goals in the final against France helped Argentina secure their first World Cup title since 1986 and completed one of the greatest international careers in football history.
Julián Álvarez Emerged as Argentina’s Breakout Star
While Lionel Messi was the face of Argentina’s triumph, Julián Álvarez established himself as one of the tournament’s biggest revelations. The young striker scored four goals and formed an excellent partnership with Messi throughout the competition.
Julián Álvarez’s Goal Breakdown
Julián Álvarez enjoyed a breakthrough tournament for Argentina, scoring crucial goals at both the group stage and knockout rounds. Here’s a match-by-match breakdown of the four goals that helped Argentina lift the World Cup in Qatar:
| Match | Stage | Goals |
| Argentina vs Poland | Group Stage | 1 |
| Argentina vs Australia | Round of 16 | 1 |
| Argentina vs Croatia | Semi-final | 2 |
| Total | 4 |
His standout performance came in the semi-finals, where he scored twice against Croatia to help Argentina book their place in the final. At just 22 years old, Álvarez announced himself on the global stage and played a key role in Argentina’s title-winning campaign.
Olivier Giroud Became France’s All-Time Leading Goalscorer
France striker Olivier Giroud also enjoyed an outstanding tournament. The veteran forward finished with four goals and surpassed Thierry Henry to become France’s all-time leading scorer during the competition.
Olivier Giroud’s Goal Breakdown
Giroud’s experience and finishing ability proved crucial to France’s run to the final, with the veteran striker delivering important goals at every stage of the tournament. Here’s a match-by-match breakdown of Olivier Giroud’s four goals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup:
| Match | Stage | Goals |
| France vs Australia | Group Stage | 2 |
| France vs Poland | Round of 16 | 1 |
| France vs England | Quarter-final | 1 |
| Total | 4 |
Despite being 36 years old, Giroud once again proved his value. His winning goal against England in the quarter-finals helped France reach a second consecutive World Cup semi-final.
Memorable Goals from the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Richarlison’s Bicycle Kick Against Serbia
Brazil striker Richarlison scored one of the goals of the tournament with a spectacular bicycle kick against Serbia during the group stage. The strike was later voted FIFA’s Goal of the Tournament.
Salem Al-Dawsari’s Winner Against Argentina
Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari produced one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history with his brilliant winner against eventual champions Argentina. The goal helped Saudi Arabia secure a memorable 2-1 victory in one of the greatest upsets the competition has ever witnessed.
Mbappé’s Hat-Trick in the Final
The World Cup final between Argentina and France produced one of the greatest individual performances in football history. With France facing defeat, Mbappé scored three times to force penalties and ensure that the final would be remembered as one of the greatest matches ever played.
Why the Messi vs Mbappé Duel Defined Qatar 2022
One of the most fascinating storylines of the tournament was the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. Interestingly, both players were teammates at Paris Saint-Germain during the 2022 World Cup.
Heading into the final, they were level on five goals each. By the end of the match, Messi had scored twice while Mbappé had produced a stunning hat-trick. Their contrasting achievements added another layer of drama to an already unforgettable tournament and created one of the greatest individual duels in World Cup history.
Most Goals in a Single FIFA World Cup
Mbappé’s eight-goal campaign places him among an elite group of players who have produced extraordinary scoring feats on football’s biggest stage. Here’s a look at the players with the most goals in a single FIFA World Cup tournament:
| Player | Tournament | Goals |
| Just Fontaine (1958) | Sweden | 13 |
| Sándor Kocsis (1954) | Switzerland | 11 |
| Gerd Müller (1970) | Mexico | 10 |
| Ademir (1950) | Brazil | 9 |
| Eusebio (1966) | England | 9 |
| Guillermo Stábile (1930) | Uruguay | 8 |
| Ronaldo (2002) | Korea/Japan | 8 |
| Kylian Mbappé (2022) | Qatar | 8 |
World Cup 2022 by the Numbers
The tournament itself produced several memorable records.
- Total matches: 64
- Total goals scored: 172
- Average goals per match: 2.69
- Champions: Argentina
- Runners-up: France
- Golden Ball winner: Lionel Messi
- Golden Glove winner: Emiliano Martínez
- Best Young Player: Enzo Fernández
The 172 goals scored in Qatar set a record for a 32-team FIFA World Cup.
Records Set During the Tournament
The 2022 FIFA World Cup produced several historic milestones and memorable achievements. Here are some of the biggest records set in Qatar:
- Lionel Messi became the most-capped player in FIFA World Cup history, making his 26th appearance in the final and surpassing Germany legend Lothar Matthäus.
- Kylian Mbappé became only the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, joining England’s Geoff Hurst, who achieved the feat in 1966.
- Argentina won their third FIFA World Cup title, adding to their triumphs in 1978 and 1986.
- France became the first defending champions since Brazil (1998 and 2002) to reach consecutive World Cup finals.
- Lionel Messi became the first player to win the Golden Ball twice, having previously received the award at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Conclusion
Kylian Mbappé answered the question of who scored the most goals in World Cup 2022 by finishing as the tournament’s leading scorer with eight goals. However, Qatar 2022 was about much more than individual numbers. Lionel Messi’s seven-goal campaign, Julián Álvarez’s emergence, and Olivier Giroud’s consistency all contributed to one of the most exciting and memorable World Cups in history.
From stunning goals and historic records to an unforgettable final between Argentina and France, the 2022 FIFA World Cup had everything football fans could ask for. Even years later, the tournament continues to be remembered for the remarkable duel between Messi and Mbappé and the incredible moments that made Qatar 2022 truly special.
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Frequently Asked Questions
France scored the most goals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, netting 16 goals in seven matches. Argentina finished second with 15 goals on their way to winning the tournament.
Kylian Mbappé scored the most goals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup with eight goals.
Yes. Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick in the final against Argentina, becoming only the second player after Geoff Hurst to achieve the feat in a World Cup final.
A total of 172 goals were scored across 64 matches, setting a record for a 32-team FIFA World Cup.
Argentina won the tournament after defeating France on penalties following a 3-3 draw in the final.
Germany’s Miroslav Klose is the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, with 16 goals scored across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014. He surpassed Brazil legend Ronaldo, who finished his World Cup career with 15 goals.
Lionel Messi has scored 13 goals in FIFA World Cups, while Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 8 goals. Therefore, Messi has more World Cup goals than Ronaldo and ranks among the top goalscorers in the tournament’s history.
