The 308 goal total is the most ever scored in a FIFA World Cup event and, while that is largely due to the expanded tournament of 48 teams and 104 matches, it is still just short of three goals a game on average.

The event had it all, from late-game winners, spectacular long-range goals, incredible goalkeeping performances, drama - both on and off the field, unbelievable underdog stories and superstars showing exactly why they are so highly rated around the world.

2026 FIFA World Cup Goals of the Tournament

5. Lionel Messi's ageless class

Despite entering the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the oldest players in the tournament at 39 years old, Lionel Messi proved he is still a class above the rest with some incredible dribbling, passing and finishing skills.

One of his best moments came in the dramatic 3-2 win over Cape Verde in the Round of 32 when Lisandro Martinez hit a long-range pass from around the halfway line to Messi in the box and controlled the ball on a dime, making it look easy, before slotting a neat finish past the excellent Vozinha to give Argentina a 1-0 lead in the first half.

4. Ferran Torres wins the trophy for Spain

Spain dominated the 2026 FIFA World Cup final but were held at bay by an excellent goalkeeping performance by Argentina's Emiliano Martinez.

However, just when it seemed as if Argentina were going to be able to force a penalty shootout, Pedro Porro looped a high cross into the box that Nico Williams headed back into the path of Torres and the Barcelona man smashed the ball into the back of the net. He went for power rather than placing it in a corner, and it paid off, as the strike was completely unstoppable.

3. Erling Haaland too good for Brazil

Norway's Erling Haaland cemented his status as one of the top strikers in the world with a match-winning performance against Brazil, scoring two very different but equally impressive goals.

The first was a typical centre forward goal, outmuscling a centre back in the air before powering home an accurate header. The second showed his class, lining up a shot from just outside the box and driving low and through traffic into the bottom corner of the net to give his country a 2-1 win over the much-favoured Brazil.

2. Harry Kane spares England's blushes against DR Congo

England captain Harry Kane rose to the occasion just when his country needed him most, scoring a brace of goals late on to rescue them from a goal down to secure a 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Round of 32.

His second goal was especially spectacular, picking the ball up at the edge of the box before dribbling past two defenders and leathering the ball beyond the goalkeeper with an unstoppable strike.

1. Sydny Lopes Cabral extra time equaliser for Cape Verde against Argentina

Even though Cape Verde would go on to lose their Round of 32 match against Argentina 3-2, it takes nothing away from Cabral's stunning 103rd-minute strike to make it 2-2 and give the tiny nation hope they might be able to push the mighty Argentina to a penalty shootout.

Cabral received a long pass from Yannick Semedo and cut back inside to beat Alexis Mac Allister and curl a spectacular long-range strike around past Emiliano Martinez into the far top corner of the net.

2026 FIFA World Cup best goalkeeping performances

5. Diogo Costa keeps Portugal in the game against Spain

Spain eventually overcame Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup but it could have been so much worse if not for Diogo Costa. His highlight of the match came when he pulled off an incredible double save to deny first Lamine Yamal and then Alex Baena's follow-up in the space of a few seconds in the first half.

The Porto star was on fire at the tournament and was also named Man of the Match in Portugal's goalless draw against Colombia in the group stage.

4. Emiliano Martinez heroics in the final

Another stellar goalkeeping performance that ended up on the losing side, Emiliano Martinez was almost the sole reason Argentina were able to force the match into extra time and almost managed to make it to a penalty shootout.

The Aston Villa shot-stopper was under immense pressure for most of the game, facing 20 shots and having to make 10 energy-sapping saves to give his side a fighting chance. Unfortunately for Martinez, Spain was able to sneak one by him late on in the second half of extra time, but it was nevertheless an outstanding performance.

3. Unai Simon sets new FIFA World Cup records

Spain only conceded a single goal in the entire World Cup, against Belgium in the quarter-final. When that goal was scored, it had been 650 minutes of game time since Simon had last conceded a World Cup goal in a run that stretched back to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and set a new record for the tournament, surpassing the mark of 517 minutes of Walter Zenga in 1990.

Not only that but Simon kept seven clean sheets in the tournament, which is also a new FIFA World Cup record for a single tournament.

2. Cape Verde's 40-year-old sensation

Vozinha entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the oldest and least-known players in the tournament, but that quickly changed when he produced seven saves to help Cape Verde claim an unbelievable 0-0 draw against eventual winners Spain in their opening game of the tournament.

He then went on to make eight saves in their dramatic 3-2 loss to Argentina, almost helping them to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history. The Cape Verde shotstopper is now practically a household name after gaining almost 30 million new Instagram followers thanks to his heroics at the World Cup.

1. Eloy Room makes history for Curacao

The single most impressive performance by any goalkeeper at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was undoubtedly Eloy Room's herculean display for Curacao against Ecuador.

The highly unfavoured nation had never earned a point at a World Cup before but Room was determined to change that, on his own if he had to. The Curacao shot stopper made 16 saves over 90 minutes, equalling the record for number of saves in a 90-minute World Cup match set by America's Tim Howard in 2014.

The performance ensured the match would end 0-0 and register a historic group-stage point for Curacao.

2026 FIFA World Cup unforgettable moments

5. The red card controversy

Unfortunately, not all moments at the World Cup were positive and FIFA caused a massive stir in the knockout stage after USA star striker Folarin Balogun was shown a red card in their Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

With USA set to face Belgium in the Round of 16, FIFA announced Balogun's suspension would be suspended after US president Donald Trump intervened in the matter, causing a furore from several football federations around the world, including UEFA and the Belgian Football Association.

4. The Tartan army spectacle

It has been some time since Scotland was last at a FIFA World Cup and their fans made the absolute most of their time at football's apex tournament.

Boston was their base of operations and reports soon began coming out of the city that bars were being drained of beer entirely, with fans playing bagpipes in the street and renting yellow school buses to take them to their games.

It was all in good fun though and, by all reports, the city of Boston loved their Scottish visitors, with the Tartan Army writing a thank-you note to the city: "Boston, you've embraced us like long-lost cousins who turned up unannounced, drank all your beer, decorated your statues, and somehow remained welcome. You are all welcome back to ours to keep this party going."

3. Norway's Viking row tradition taking the world by storm

Norway and its fans went viral at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the way they would celebrate their wins with synchronised rowing on the pitch and in the stands.

The celebration became so popular that other countries and their fans began to mimic it during the tournament, but the most high-profile versions were when Norwegian fans performed it in New York City's Times Square and when Erling Haaland led his team and the entire fanbase in a row with a drum on the field after they beat Brazil.

2. Harry Kane losing his voice

England's 3-2 win over Mexico at the Azteca in Mexico City in the Round of 16 is a certified FIFA World Cup classic. The match had it all: goals, raucous fans, superstar moments and even a red card.

The match pushed everyone involved, from the players to the fans and even the commentators, to the brink, with England captain Harry Kane famously losing his voice in the post-match interview and barely being able to speak after the Three Lions clung on for the win.

1. Insane third-place playoff

World Cup knockout games are often known for being tense and tight affairs with neither side willing to take many risks. However, the third-place playoff is often an exception to that rule, with the two teams rather playing for the joy of the game to create a spectacle, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup was no different.

In what could well be one of the best matches ever played at a FIFA World Cup, England beat France 6-4 in a 10-goal thriller that won't soon be forgotten.

England began the match like a house on fire, taking France completely by surprise and racing to a 4-0 lead by half-time. The French made a raft of substitutions at the break and were a different team in the second half, recovering to 4-3.

Bukayo Saka made it 5-3 to England before Ousmane Dembele would ensure it would be a grandstand finish by pulling another goal back for France.

However, Jude Bellingham secured the stunning win for England with a strike deep into stoppage time at the end of the game to make it 6-4.

Luyolo Slatsha will only get better at Cape Town City, says Eric Tinkler