This World Cup has also highlighted how rare truly prolific goalscorers have become. Since the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, when Gerd Müller scored 10 goals for West Germany, only two players have managed to score more than seven goals in a single edition. Ronaldo Nazario, one of the great centre forwards in history, amassed eight goals in 2002 to inspire Brazil to lift the trophy, and Kylian Mbappé matched the tally in 2022, though France fell short in the final against Argentina.

Kylian Mbappe's 20 goals in 20 World Cup games fuel a historic debate: Is he football's greatest scorer, or simply the ultimate product of the modern game? | Football News

Mbappe is back ahead of Messi in the standings after Haaland and Kane thrust themselves into the conversation