No fewer than 172 goals flew into the back of the net during an action-packed three weeks at the 2022 World Cup, cementing the Qatar competition in history as the most prolific tournament of its kind so far.
A total of 171 strikes were chalked up in the 1998 and 2014 tournaments, but a six-goal spectacular between Argentina and France in Sunday's final saw the 2022 World Cup set a new goalscoring record, as La Albiceleste won their third World Cup crown via another penalty shootout.
The 2022 World Cup also threw up its fair share of bore draws and goalless stalemates, but for a tournament averaging over two and a half goals per game, there were several thunderbolts and wonderfully worked team efforts on offer in equal measure.
Having analysed all 172 goals at the 2022 World Cup, Sports Mole counts down the five best strikes from this winter's unforgettable competition.
5. ANGEL DI MARIA - ARGENTINA VS. FRANCE (FINAL)
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All eyes were on Argentina's perpetual number 10 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Sunday's final, but a fit-again Angel Di Maria wanted a slice of the action alongside Lionel Messi and scored one of the all-time great team goals at a World Cup.
Messi was unsurprisingly involved in a lightning-quick Albiceleste counter-attack, producing an audacious flick out to Julian Alvarez, who released Alexis Mac Allister in acres of space down the right.
The Brighton & Hove Albion star looked up before providing a perfectly-weighted pass for Di Maria, who produced a sublime piece of technique to side foot the ball over the sprawled Hugo Lloris into the far corner.
The tears very nearly flowed for the 34-year-old as he put Argentina 2-0 up before being taken off on the 64-minute mark on what is expected to be his final international appearance, and he could hardly have envisaged a more perfect way to bow out on the biggest stage of them all.
4. VINCENT ABOUBAKAR - CAMEROON VS. SERBIA (GROUP STAGE)
Vincent Aboubakar made headlines off the pitch after boldly claiming that his qualities are on par with Mohamed Salah's, and even the Liverpool man would have raised a toast after watching the Cameroon striker's intrepid lob against Serbia in Group F.
The Indomitable Lions were seemingly heading for defeat after finding themselves 3-1 down early in the second half, but Aboubakar needed just eight minutes to reduce the deficit after being brought on as a second-half substitute.
The 30-year-old latched onto a long ball from Bryan Mbeumo over the top, effortlessly evaded the attention of a sliding Nemanja Maksimovic and lifted the ball delicately over Vanja Milinkovic-Savic before the offside flag went up.
However, a quick review showed that Aboubakar's sensational goal was a perfectly good one, and the striker's memorable effort ignited a storming Cameroon comeback in a 3-3 draw before that dramatic late winner against Brazil a few days later, albeit an inconsequential one.
3. RICHARLISON - BRAZIL VS. SERBIA (GROUP STAGE)
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This list does not make for pleasant reading for the Serbia faithful, as their side also fell victim to another marvellous goal in the group stage - this time from Brazil's leading number nine Richarlison.
A few eyebrows were raised when Richarlison was chosen to lead the Selecao line ahead of Gabriel Jesus, but Tottenham Hotspur won that section of their North London rivalry with Arsenal, and Tite's bold selection call was soon justified.
During their opening match of the 2022 tournament, Richarlison sent Brazil ahead from close range in the 62nd minute before he was picked out by Vinicius Junior's cross from the left-hand side 11 minutes later.
The Tottenham man neatly flicked the ball up before channelling his inner acrobat with a sensational bicycle kick towards the bottom corner, but Brazil's attacking effectiveness disappointingly only lasted until the quarter-finals.
2. SALEM AL-DAWSARI - SAUDI ARABIA VS. ARGENTINA (GROUP STAGE)
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An Olympic gold medal would not have gone the way of Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari for his backflip celebration against Argentina in the group stage, but his winning goal was a perfect 10.
The script had been written before the two nations took to the field for their opening Group C battle, and Lionel Messi remembered his lines from the first chapter, netting a 10th-minute penalty to seemingly set the Copa America winners on their way to an early three points.
Lionel Scaloni's side would continue to make the net ripple, but their subsequent strikes were all ruled out before Saleh Al-Shehri managed to squeeze the ball past Emiliano Martinez from a tight angle.
The Green contingent then erupted as Al-Dawsari cut inside before unleashing a rocket into the top corner, which sealed a historic win for Saudi Arabia before they succumbed to our Goal of the Tournament.
1. LUIS CHAVEZ - MEXICO VS. SAUDI ARABIA (GROUP STAGE)
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Mexico midfielder Luis Chavez would do well to establish a school in free-kick mastery when he hangs up his boots, with his scorcher of an effort against Saudi Arabia in the group stage played on repeat on the big screen.
Henry Martin had drawn first blood for Mexico from close range before El Tri were awarded a free kick a good 35 yards from goal, and Chavez's wand of a left foot sent the ball searing into the top corner beyond the hapless Guillermo Ochoa.
Chavez very nearly replicated his magnificent dead-ball strike later in the second half on the opposite side of the goal, but Ochoa was equal to that effort before Al-Dawsari's injury-time strike gave Saudi Arabia a glimmer of hope.
Before packing their bags, Mexico would hold on for a 2-1 win thanks to one of the best free kicks that will ever fly into the back of the net at a World Cup finals, and Chavez's effort clocked in at a whopping 75mph - the fastest goal of the 2022 group stage.
Ben Knapton
