With the squad advancing to the quarter-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup overshadowed, last-minute competition for the top scorer is intensifying.
The most advanced player in the competition for top scorer is Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), striker of the France national football team. Until the quarter-finals he ranks first in the scorers category with a total of 5 goals.
Mbappé has consistently scored goals since the group stage.
Mbappe, who relished the opening goal of the tournament against Australia, scored twice against Denmark. Also, in the round of 16 against Poland, he boasted a high sense of goal with multiple goals.
Mbappe, who scored four goals in the Russian tournament four years ago that led France to a World Cup victory, has increased his chances of becoming top scorer by breaking his own record for most goals in the World Cup.
However, in the quarter-final against England, he was held up by the intense control of the opponent and failed to score a goal even after playing full-time.
Meanwhile, competitors chased Mbappé.
Argentinian Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain) and Frenchman Olivier Giroud (AC Milan) added one goal each in the quarter-finals, chasing Mbappé all the way with a total of four goals.
Giroud scored the winning goal with a header in the 33rd minute of the second half as the score was 1-1 against England.
It was the 4th goal in this tournament and 53 goals in the A-match, continuing to lead the French national team in the most goals.
Messi also scored the fourth goal of the tournament with a penalty kick in the 28th minute of the second half in the quarterfinal match against the Netherlands. Messi has scored a goal in every match of this tournament, with the exception of the match against Poland, where he missed a penalty.
The competition between Mbappe, Messi and Giroud for the top scorer is expected to continue until the end of the tournament.
This is because even if they lose in the quarterfinals, they can play the game for third place.
The semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar will start with Argentina and Croatia on the 14th, followed by France and Morocco on the 15th.
All three players will challenge for the ‘Golden Boot’, the first World Cup goalscorer of their lives.
Mbappe’s best performance was a tie for second place in the 2018 Russian tournament.
Messi tied for third place in the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Giroud had scored just one goal in the previous two World Cups.
[서울=뉴시스]
- as picturelike it
- sad imagesI’m so sad
- angry picturesI am angry
- I want a follow up pictureI want a follow up article
Featured image of the articleArticle recommendation
share imageTo share
Copyright ⓒ Donga Ilbo & donga.com
