Total number of
goals scored (1930-2018)
2548
Every FIFA World Cup has had its heroes. Walking down the echelons of World Cup glory, from Italy's Paolo Rossi, the winner of the first 'Golden Ball' introduced by the FIFA in 1982 for the best player of the finals, to Croatia's Luka Modric in the last edition of the tournament, there were stars who mesmerised the fans across the world with their exceptional soccer skills. Here is a list of fun and interesting World Cup facts to get you into the spirit for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
*Click on the jersey to explore the fun facts
Total number of
goals scored (1930-2018)
2548
Scorer of the first goal
Lucien Laurent (France -1930)
First hat-trick
Bert Patenaude (USA -1930)
Most goals in a tournament
1998 and 2014 (171 each)
Least goals in an edition
1930 and 1934 (70 each)
Country with maximum number of goals
Germany (229)
Most number of goals by a player
Miroslav Klose, Germany (16 goals from 24 matches)
Player with most number of goals in a game
Oleg Salenko of Russia (5 goals, against Cameroon in 1994)
Country with most number of World Cup titles
Brazil – 5 (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
Teams with most number of final meetings
Argentina-Germany (1986, 1990, 2014)
Country with most number of goals in an edition
Hungary - 27 (1954)
The Golden Ball Award is presented to the outstanding player at each FIFA World Cup finals.
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
There have been two iterations of the FIFA World Cup Trophy. The old one, called the Jules Rimet Trophy, was in place from 1930 to 1970. It was named after the third FIFA President Jules Rimet, who was one of the key men responsible for creating a World Cup tournament. This Trophy was designed by French sculptor Abel Lafleur.
weight: 3.8 kg
Material:
gold-plated sterling silver
blue base made:
lapis lazuli stone
height: 35 cm
Gold statuette of Nike,
the Greek goddess of victory
Material:
gold-plated sterling silver
Gold statuette of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory
blue base made:
lapis lazuli stone
weight: 6.175 kg
Material:
4.927 kg gold (18 karats)
circular base:
malachite
height: 36.8 cm
The winners of each tournament have their name engraved on the base.
circular base:
malachite
Material:
4.927 kg gold (18 karats)
The winners of each tournament have their name engraved on the base.