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Race for the Golden Boot, most assists and most hat-tricks – Qatar World Cup 2022 statistics

Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford
Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford

With the World Cup group stage concluded and the round of 16 well under way, now is the perfect time to take stock and look back at the events of the past two weeks.

Who's found the back of the net most, who has been Mr Unselfish and set up the most goals, and who's on the naughty step for the most red and yellow cards?

Thirty-two teams started out on the path to hopeful World Cup glory, but that has been whittled down to 12 after four knockout round matches played. That's the most important stat but there are plenty of others and here they are – the Qatar World Cup in numbers (so far).

Most team goals scored

England and Portugal are the teams who've found the net the most with a total of 12 so far. Half of those England goals came in the impressive opening win over Iran, while Portugal doubled their tally in their 6-1 last-16 win over Switzerland. France and Spain are behind on nine.

The race for the Golden Boot

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to find the net in five consecutive World Cups, scoring – from the spot – in Portugal's opening 3-2 win over Ghana. But despite his protestations otherwise, he failed to get on the scoresheet in his side's 2-0 win over Uruguay and so isn't currently in the running for the Golden Boot.

France's Kylian Mbappé currently tops the table on five goals, with a chasing pack of nine players on three goals. Mbappe's team-mate Olivier Giroud, England's Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, the Netherlands' Cody Gakpo, Argentina's Lionel Messi, Brazil's Richarlison, Portugal's Goncalo Ramos - who scored a hat-trick in his first international start - and Spain's Álvaro Morata are all there, as is Ecuador's Enner Valencia. The final pair won't have a chance to add to their tally with the South Americans failing to make it to the knockout stages.

Fastest goal

Alphonso Davies has been the most alert after the ref's whistle, scoring after just one minute and eight seconds in Canada's 4-1 defeat to Croatia.

The next fastest goal comes over two minutes later, a Hakim Ziyech 35-yard chip for Morocco against Canada on three minutes 31 seconds. We've still got two weeks to go but it will take some doing to knock the Canadian off the top of the rankings.

Most assists

England’s Harry Kane started out at Qatar as a favourite to win the Golden Boot, but after setting up Rashford and Raheem Sterling to score in the 6-2 win against Iran in the team’s opening match, and then Phil Foden in the 2-0 victory against Wales. He is the joint leader in the assist race in Qatar along with Portugal's Bruno Fernandes. Each has three assists.

Most clean sheets

England and Morocco lead the way here with three clean sheets each after four matches played. Eleven sides are just behind them on two, though several of them – Uruguay, Belgium and Australia, for instance – are now out.

Most yellow and red cards

South Korea’s Paulo Bento became the first coach ever shown a red card at a World Cup match, during his team’s clash with Uruguay.

Wales' Wayne Hennessey became the first player to be sent off in Qatar, during his side's 2-0 defeat to Iran while Cameroon's Vincent Aboubakar scored the winner in their shock victory over Brazil, but was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for his celebration.

Most penalties conceded

So far it would seem everyone has been relatively well-behaved in their own box with no one side conceding more than just the solitary penalty. Managers of those teams that have made it to the knockouts will doubtless hope that the lack of rash tackles in the area continues.

Most penalties won

Portugal top this table with two – one in the first match against Ghana, the other in the dying moments of the win over Uruguay. Ronaldo scored the first but had to see team-mate Bruno Fernandes slot home the other with the clubless player having been substituted.