Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Ronaldo lead a list of the best golazos of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
There were a record 215 goals scored in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, unsurprisingly, given the expanded 48-team field. But there was an average of 2.99 goals scored per game, which is also a record. Maybe it’s because the best players showed out. Or perhaps the inclusion of minnows created more lopsided scores. Or it might just be because the seamless Adidas Trionda ball is hard for keepers to track. Probably all three. While there’ve been a lot of goals so far in this World Cup, these are the top bangers: The Top 15 Goals of the World Cup Group Stage.
Livano Comenencia (Curaçao) vs. Germany
For a minute—well, 17 minutes, to be precise—Curaçao were level at 1-1 with the mighty Germany, after Comenencia scored his country’s first-ever World Cup goal. We’ll always have those 17 minutes, and this sweet left-footed strike.
Eldor Shomurodov (Uzbekistan) vs. DR Congo
Uzbekistan only managed two goals over their three losses, but this delicate Shomurodov lob should’ve been worth three.
Kevin Lenini Pina (Cape Verde) vs. Uruguay
Another country’s first came in the form of this stunning long-distance free kick from Pina.
Promise David (Canada) vs. Switzerland
Luc De Fougerolles sends a long pass up the right side to Nathan-Dylan Saliba, who takes it with his right foot, then crosses with his left to David, who flicks it home with his right toe. The ball never hit the ground.
Rafik Belghali (Algeria) vs. Austria
Ball boings off the corner flag, Belghali picks it up, has his initial shot blocked, then slaloms his way closer to goal and bangs it in short side.
Daniel Muñoz (Colombia) vs. Uzbekistan
Honorable mention goes to DR Congo’s Fiston Mayele, but Muñoz had the prettiest right-footed-flick-over-the-keeper of the tournament so far, mostly because of the sumptuous pass from Luis Diaz.
Gio Reyna (USA) vs. Paraguay
Reyna’s trivela goal for USA’s fourth was fire; his hands-over-the-ears cellie was ice cold.
Wilson Isidor (Haiti) vs. Morocco
The Sunderland man’s 25+-yard wonderstrike came out of nowhere. To the wide-eyed dude in the Yankee cap caught on camera immediately after: You were all of us.
Kerim Alajbegović (Bosnia and Herzegovina) vs. Qatar
The highly touted 18-year-old Alajbegović made his mark by finishing a mazy lateral run across the top of the box with an absolute thunderbolt into the top-right corner. USA beware.
Daizen Maeda (Japan) vs. Sweden
Japan have had several champagne-football goals across this tournament, but we’ll take this one against Sweden. Maeda split the D with a well-timed run and Ritsu Doan’s throughball was glorious.
Ismael Saibari (Morocco) vs. Scotland
The Barcelona-born forward scored a goal in each of Morocco’s three games. With respect to his dink against Brazil, this blast into the far corner from a tight angle in the second minute against Scotland is our pick of the trio.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) vs. Uzbekistan
After taking much stick about being washed, CR7 bounced back with a brace against the Uzbeks. Both goals were sweet, but the second, off a beautiful feed from Pedro Neto, was truly worthy of his trademark SIUUUUU!
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) vs. Morocco
World-class players can make moments out of nothing. When Vini got the ball toward the bottom corner of the box, he was surrounded by three Moroccan defenders. A few quick dribbles and a cracking shot later, the ball was in the back of the net.
Kylian Mbappé (France) vs. Senegal
With this long-range golazo, Mbappé broke the record for most goals in the history of France’s men’s team. And what a strike to do it on.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) vs. Austria
The current Golden Boot leader became the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer by completing this slick team move, complete with a brilliant dummy from Thiago Almada. We love a brilliant dummy.
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Source: Complex
