World Cup stats: 75 goals scored, Kane and Messi shine in opening matches

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is barely past its opening round, and the tournament has already delivered a stat line that looks like it was pulled from a video game. Seventy-five goals across the first 24 matches. That works out to 3.1 goals per game, the highest scoring rate at a World Cup since 1958.

For context, the 1958 tournament in Sweden was the one that introduced the world to a 17-year-old Pelé. Nearly seven decades later, the goals are flowing at the same pace, this time across a sprawling 48-team format co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Messi and Kane rewrite the record books

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick, bringing his career World Cup goal tally to 16. That ties Miroslav Klose’s all-time record.

The hat-trick was the only one recorded across the opening 24 fixtures. Seven different players managed to score twice in their opening matches, with Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland among that group.

Harry Kane scored twice, raising his career World Cup total to 10 goals. That puts him level with Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament. Lineker set that record at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Kane matched it on the same continent, 40 years later.

Goals, draws, and chaos

Nine of the 24 opening matches ended in draws. Three own goals were recorded across the opening round. Three red cards added to the drama.

The 48-team format is delivering

When FIFA announced the expansion to 48 teams, the criticism was loud and predictable. More teams means more mismatches, the argument went. Diluting the field would produce forgettable games and diminish the tournament’s prestige.

The historical comparison to 1958 is worth dwelling on. That tournament featured just 16 teams. The 2026 edition has three times as many, yet the goals-per-game rate is identical.

What to watch as the group stage continues

Messi needs just one more goal to stand alone as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, having tied Klose’s record of 16.

Kane sits at 10 World Cup goals, level with Lineker’s England record. Mbappé already won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup. Haaland, playing in his first World Cup, has scored twice in his opening match.

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