World Cup 2026 statistics: Who’s hit more shots than Mbappe? Who’s run further than Kane? Who’s tackled more than Anderson?

The round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup is over, and it serves up a chance to delve into the numbers behind our quarter-finalists.

Who has taken more shots than Kylian Mbappe? Who has run further than Harry Kane? Who has pressed more than Elliot Anderson? Here is a look at some of the standout statistics from the last eight’s first five games at the World Cup.

Creative Argentina

The world champions are on top of the expected goals charts, perhaps no surprise given Lionel Messi’s place at the top of the Golden Boot standings despite having missed two penalties.

What might be more of a surprise to those who watched England toil against Ghana and most of their match with Panama is that Thomas Tuchel’s brave boys have created the best scoring opportunities of the rest, marginally ahead of Spain. England have also taken a different route to goal with more headed attempts (22) than any remaining side.

France will be encouraged to see that their quarter-final opposition, Morocco, have mustered an expected goals tally of only 6.4 across their five games, and have taken the fewest shots inside the area (38) of the remaining eight teams.

Expected goalscorers

Big names are in the race for the Golden Boot and they are in a league of their own for shots and expected goals. Lionel Messi tops both shots and xG, with Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane all popping up with productive numbers.

Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal is the only other player to have generated more than three expected goals in the tournament.

Captain’s run

Belgium have run further than any other side and four of their players are in the top 10 for the entire tournament, with Youri Tielemans top of the pile having cleared the 60km mark during their win over USA in the round of 16.

Harry Kane is England’s top runner, getting through more than 53km across his five appearances and leading by example. Indeed, there are five captains in the top 20.

Anderson’s shelter

Elliot Anderson has added protection and a little bite to England’s midfield, as shown by the tackle he made to spark Jude Bellingham’s second goal against Mexico, and he is near the top of the charts when it comes to defensive contributions at this World Cup. For all England’s attacking talent over the past two decades, they have long been in need of the sort of midfield steel Anderson provides.

Morocco’s Neil El Aynoui has made the most direct presses on opponents with the ball, while Pedri has forced the most turnovers – which helps in part to explain Spain’s exceptional possession stats.

Spain’s ball

Spain lead the possession numbers, proving true to their footballing ideals. A midfield of Rodri, Pedri, and Dani Olmo has been key to keeping hold of the ball and it has made for effective weapon, particularly when needing to kill a game off as they did so easily against Austria in the round of 32.

Spain have also forced the most turnovers of possession (252) of any team in the tournament.

Interestingly, Belgium – Spain’s quarter-final opponents – are the only side left in the competition with negative possession. Rudi Garcia’s team might be the most comfortable of any to let Spain have the ball and wait for their moments on the counterattack.