Top 10 Goals of the Group Stage - FIFA World Cup

Number 1 Richarlison de Andrade

Richarlison is a Brazilian striker who currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. In the game Brazil versus Serbia, Richarlison had already scored a tap-in to make it 1-0, but his performance wasn't over yet. Vinicious JR was running down the left wing and crossed it in with the outside of his right boot. 

Richarlison kicks just above his head and bicycle kicks it into the left corner of the goal. This goal is by far the best not only because he scored in the hardest shot technique you can pull off, but also one of the hardest cross techniques to pull off as well. The play was so skillful and to finish it off with a bicycle kick just puts the cherry on top. This goal is probably one of the best ever scored in any World Cup so that's why it deserves number 1.

To see the goals throughout this article just click the image!

Number 2 Rouzbeh Cheshmi

Rouzbeh Cheshmi is an Iranian centre defensive midfielder who currently plays for Esteghlal in the Persian Gulf Pro League. In the match Wales versus Iran, both teams fought equally hard but neither were getting rewarded with not long to go the welsh keeper came out of the box and fouled Taremi outside of the box trying to win the challenge.

The referee originally gave a yellow but it went to VAR and was called a red card for his high boot; this gave Iran an advantage to score since Wales were a man down. 4 minutes after, it's the 90th minute and both crowds are chanting and shouting. The ball is in the welsh box and Joe Allan clears it straight to Cheshmi who takes a touch and smashes it from far outside the box and it travels all the way to the bottom right corner. Iran players and supporters went crazy and celebrated wildly. Iran scored another late goal to seal the deal but it's nowhere near as good as Cheshmi’s long range shot in the 90th minute.  

Number 3 Salem Aldawsari

Salem Aldawsari is a Saudi Arabian left winger who plays for Al Hilal in the Saudi Professional League. In the game Argentina versus Saudi Arabia, Argentina got awarded a penalty from Al Bulayahi dragging down Paredes in the box. Messi steps up to take the penalty and makes it 1-0. Argentina played well for the remainder of the first half and Saudi Arabia needed to perform in the second half and that's exactly what they did. 

Early in the second half Alshehri scored a lovely goal placing it perfectly into the bottom right corner. Now Saudi Arabia had momentum and not long after a cross came into the argentinian box and it got deflected away. Aldawsari controls the ball down to his feet, goes round two and hits the ball from outside of the box, it travels towards the top corner and goes in! Martinez got a hand to it, but it wasn't enough to keep it out of his net. The goal itself was incredible, but the winner against Argentina makes it ten times better.

Number 4 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian forward who can play on the right and in the centre. Messi currently plays for Paris Saint Germain also known as PSG. In the match between Argentina and Mexico, both teams were playing well but Argentina mainly dominated. Argentina and Mexico had scoring chances but no one could score in the first half.

In the second half Argentina started to get in those goal scoring chances and in the 64th minute Di Maria held the ball around the top right corner of the box and passed the ball to Messi who took a touch with his left foot and then drove the ball along the floor from 25 yards out. The ball travels all the way to the bottom right corner. The goal put Argentina 1-0 up and Mexico had to try to form a goal to equalise.

Number 5 Dani Olmo

Dani Olmo is a Spanish centre attacking midfielder who plays for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. In the matchup between Spain and Costa Rica, Spain started the game really well and are putting pressure on Costa Rica.

In the 11th minute, the ball gets passed to Olmo from the left and controls it with his right foot. He then passes the ball to Gavi who is on the edge of the box. Gavi controls it with his right and then chips it over the defender for Olmo to run onto. He brings it down with his right foot whilst turning around the defender, then chips it over the keeper to make it 1-0 to Spain. This goal was so pleasant to watch and the one two between Olmo and Gavi made the goal look so much nicer.

Number 6 Gavi

Gavi is a Spanish centre midfielder who plays for FC Barcelona in the Laliga Santander. In the game Spain versus Costa Rica, Spain have been dominating Costa Rica and are already up 4-0, but that wasn't enough for Spain because in the 74th minute, Morata crosses the ball in from the left side of the pitch.

Gavi is isolated and makes a connection with the cross. He uses the outside of his boot to volley it into the bottom right corner going in off the post. This put Spain 5-0 up and what a way to do it.

Number 7 Enzo Fernandez

Enzo Fernandez is an Argentinian centre midfielder who plays for Benfica in the Primeira Liga. In the match Argentina versus Mexico, Argentina were 1-0 up and not letting Mexico score a goal. It was the 86th minute and Argentina were up 1-0, but Mexico were non stop attacking to try and get a goal.

Argentina had a corner on the left and played it short to Messi. Messi passed it to Fernandez who was at the top left of the box. He took a touch, performed a stepover with his left foot, then fainted left cut inside and curled it into the top corner with his right foot. It was a lovely piece of skill to create the space between him and the defender and to be able to shoot and make the connection with the ball.

Number 8 Marko Livaja

Marko Livaja is a Croatian striker who plays for Hajduk Split in the Croatian football league. In the matchup between Canada versus Croatia it was 1-1 and both sides were fighting for the second goal, but just before halftime in the 43rd minute, Juranovic drove forward towards the edge of the box.

He got tackled but won it back and had enough time to pass it through Steven Vitora’s legs and found Livaja. He took a touch with his right foot and smashed the ball towards the bottom left corner from just outside the box. It travelled all the way into the bottom corner to put Croatia 2-1 up.

Number 9 Mitchell Duke

Mitchell Duke is an Australian striker who plays for Fagiano Okayama in the J2 League. In the game Tunisia versus Australia, Australia started off with most of the possession and looked like the better team in the opening minutes. In the 22nd minute, Harry Soutar lobbed the ball from the backline all the way to the halfway line where Mitch Duke first time passed it to Riley McGree who took a touch into space and passed it to Greg Goodwin on the left.

Goodwin drove down the left side of the pitch and then went to cross it into the box. The ball was deflected into the ground but had enough power and height to bounce over the first Tunisian defender. Mitch Duke was behind him and managed to place it into the bottom right corner with his head. It was placed so perfectly that the keeper couldn't reach. Mitch Duke had to react to the cross quite quickly and even managed to place it in the exact spot he had to. The build up play for this goal was incredible and what the goal meant for Australia makes this even better and will go down in Socceroos history because it gives them a chance to qualify for the knockout stages.

Number 10 Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford is an English forward that can play on the left and right for Manchester United in the Premier League. It was the 48th minute and Phil Foden was driving towards the welsh box.

He performs some lovely skill but gets fouled before he makes it into the penalty area. The referee calls a freekick and Rashford steps up to take it. He runs up to the ball and smashes it across goal which caught the keeper off guard. It flew all the way into the right of the goal. This goal put England 1-0 up and helped them end up winning 3-0.

By Rylan Long