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

With the World Cup last 16 stage finished and the quarter-finals half-way through, 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 the eight left in the quarter finals. 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, Argentina and eliminated 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 is not currently in the running for the Golden Boot.

France's Kylian Mbappé currently tops the table on five goals, with Lionel Messi on four behind him. There is a pack of nine players on three goals. Of those still in the tournament are Mbappe's team-mate Olivier Giroud, England's Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Goncalo Ramos – who scored a hat-trick in his first international start. Spain's Álvaro Moratam Brazil's Richarlison and Ecuador's Enner Valencia are also on three but they won't have a chance to add to their tally.

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's 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 and Argentina top this table with two. Ronaldo scored the first but had to see team-mate Bruno Fernandes slot home the other with the clubless player having been substituted. Lionel Messi missed his first against Poland but buried his second against Netherlands in the quarter-final.