Want to see who has had the most shots at the 2026 World Cup so far? Check the latest World Cup shot stats below.
Shots are one of the most direct measures of attacking threat in football. A player who shoots often is putting themselves in position to score. Combined with quality metrics, it tells you who is doing the most to put their team in front. Here is who is leading the charts at World Cup 2026.
World Cup Player Shot Stats
World Cup Team Shot Stats
What Counts as a Shot?
A shot is recorded by Opta any time a player attempts to score a goal. This includes efforts on target, off target, blocked attempts and shots that hit the woodwork.
It does not include crosses, attempted assists or clearances that happen to go toward goal. The attempt must be a deliberate effort at goal to be counted.
It is worth remembering that the volume of shots a player takes is heavily influenced by their role. Centre-forwards and attacking midfielders will naturally register more attempts than wide players or deep-lying creators. Comparing shot totals across positions requires some context.
Shots on Target, Shot Accuracy and Shots from Set Pieces
Total shots show who is pulling the trigger most often. But three related stats add important detail.
Shots on target measures how many of a player’s attempts forced a save or hit the net. A high number suggests consistent quality of striking, not just volume. Shot accuracy takes this further, showing the percentage of shots that hit the target. Two players might have the same number of shots, but very different accuracy rates. The player converting a higher percentage is generally the more clinical finisher.
Shots from set pieces is a useful additional layer. Free kicks, corners and penalties generate a significant portion of World Cup attempts. A player who regularly threatens from dead ball situations adds a different dimension to their team’s attack. Tracking this stat separately helps identify who is dangerous from restarts, rather than just in open play.
Who had the most shots at the 2022 World Cup?
Lionel Messi led the 2022 World Cup with 32 shots, the most of any player at the tournament. He achieved a shot conversion rate of 21.9% across his attempts. The Argentina captain was the central figure in their run to the title, combining high-volume shooting with a sharp eye for goal throughout the competition.
Who has the most shots in World Cup history?
Opta does not hold comprehensive shot data for the earliest editions of the World Cup. Its detailed records begin in 1966, so any all-time comparison only covers tournaments from that point onward.
Within that period, players such as Messi and Ronaldo rank among the likely leaders thanks to their appearances across multiple tournaments. However, publicly available data does not allow us to confirm a definitive all-time leader for shots with complete certainty.
We will update this section as more information becomes available.
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