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The game of football is evolving fast and the evolution is seen in every World Cup. Players are fitter, faster and more skillful resulting in a goal fest each tournament. With each passing World Cup the statistics go for a toss and records are rewritten. And it comes as no surprise that the last 5 World Cup tournaments have produced more goals than their predecessors. With Germanys record Breaking 7-1 victory over Brazil in the semifinal, the 2014 edition is in second place for the most goals scored in a tournament with still 3 matches to go. Here we look at the top 5 World Cups which produced the most goals.
#5 2010 South Africa 145 goals
For the first time in history an African nation hosted the footballing world’s most prestigious tournament and they did not disappoint. The 19th FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa were full of goals and amassed a total of 145 goals which was eventually won by Spain beating Netherlands in the final with the help of a solitary goal by Andres Iniesta.
Spain though were not the most high scoring team of the tournament, that honour was received by Germany for scoring 16 goals and their 20-year old striker Thomas Muller won the Golden Boot for his 5 goals and 3 assists in the tournament. Germany, though, finished third after they lost to Italy in the semi-finals.
Read More: 2022 FIFA World Cup
#4 2006 Germany 147 goals
The FIFA World Cup returned to Europe after the 2002 excursion to Asia and surely European teams backing themselves to win the coveted trophy in familiar backgrounds. The 2006 World Cup was hosted by Germany for the first time and a goals galore was expected. Italy beat France 5-3 in penalties to win the World Cup for the 4th time. Second behind Brazil who have five.
Hosts Germany did not go empty handed though, they came third after beating Portugal in the 3rd place play-off. They also scored the most goals in the tournament with 14 goals with their talisman Miraslav Klose topping it with 5 goals and the Golden Boot award.
#3 2002 South Korea & Japan 161 goals
The Beautiful Game entered unknown territory in 2002 with Asia hosting the World for the first time in history of the game. Japan & South Korea played graceful hosts to the football world. The mercury level in the tournament reached searing heights but that did not stop teams from scoring goals at will. The 2002 World Cup produced 161 goals, a record which was just broken by the 2014 edition by Germany’s heroics in the semi-final against Brazil.
The 2002 World Cup saw defenses fall apart and strikers having the time of their life. Brazil’s Ronaldo scored a record 8 goals in the tournament helping the team to a 5th World Cup title. Brazil inevitably was the highest goal scorers of the tournament with 18 goals, with Ronaldo’s strike partner Rivaldo joining him with 5 goals of his own. Germany’s goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who made a crucial mistake in the final that allowed Brazil to win, was ironically awarded the Golden Ball for taking his team to the final.
#2 2014 Brazil 167* goals
The World Cup returned to the Samba land after 64 years kicking off frenzy among the football crazy nation. The tournament saw a slew of goal scoring pyrotechnics by the players in exhausting heat and humid surroundings. Experts have been left astounded by the records broken in conditions considered testing even to the home grown players.
The 2014 World Cup has already seen 167 goals scored with still three matches to go. Germany are again on top of the goal scoring charts with 17 goals so far, helped largely by a 7-1 thrashing of hosts Brazil. Colombia’s James Rodriguez is in pole position to win the Golden Boot with 6 goals but Germany’s Thomas Muller might just knick it who still has a match to play and has 5 goals to his name.
#1 1998 France 171 goals
France 1998 has seen the most goals scored in a World Cup tournament and if not broken by the ongoing 2014 edition that record of 171 goals is going to be extended to two decades. France hosted the tournament for the second time and they were second time lucky as they won the trophy in front of their home crowd for the very first time.
Croatian center forward Devor Suker won the Golden Boot for his 6 goals which assisted Croatia to a surprise third place finish while champions France took the highest goal scoring feat for their 15 goals, just pipping Brazil who scored 14.
Check out: FIFA World Cup 2022 Standings
