​The Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup has concluded, opening a window to explore the numbers behind the quarter-finalists. Which players have fired more shots than Kylian Mbappe? Who has covered more ground than Harry Kane? Who has pressed more than Elliot Anderson? Here is a detailed look at some of the standout statistics from the first five games of the last eight teams in the tournament.
The world champions sit atop the expected goals charts, a perhaps unsurprising position given Lionel Messi’s presence at the pinnacle of the Golden Boot race despite missing two penalties. What might surprise casual observers who watched England struggle against Ghana and largely fragment their contest with Panama is that Thomas Tuchel’s brave squad has created the best scoring chances among the remaining teams, just ahead of Spain. England have also adopted a different route to goal, recording more headed attempts (22) than any other side left in the competition.
France will take heart from the fact that their quarter-final opponents, Morocco, have generated an expected goals tally of only 6.4 across five matches and have attempted the fewest shots inside the penalty area (38) of the eight survivors. Big-name players remain in the hunt for the Golden Boot, and they also sit in a league of their own when it comes to volume of shots and expected goals. Lionel Messi leads in both shots and xG, while Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane are also posting highly productive numbers.
Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal is the only other player to have generated more than three expected goals in the tournament. Belgium, meanwhile, have run farther than any other team, and four of their players are among the top 10 for the entire tournament. Youri Tielemans sits at the top of that list, having surpassed the 60-kilometer mark in their round of 16 victory over the United States.
England’s own leader in distance run is Harry Kane, who has amassed over 53 kilometers across his five appearances, setting a strong example for the squad. Indeed, five captains feature in the top 20 for running distance. Elliot Anderson has added a layer of protection and bite to England’s midfield, evidenced by the tackle that sparked Jude Bellingham’s second goal against Mexico, and he is near the top of the charts for defensive contributions at this World Cup. For a nation renowned for attacking talent across two decades, England have long needed the kind of midfield resilience Anderson provides.
Morocco’s Neil El Ainoui has made the most direct presses on opponents, while Pedri has forced the most turnovers, helping to explain Spain’s exceptional possession statistics. Spain lead the way in ball possession, aligning with their footballing philosophy. A midfield trio of Rodri, Pedri, and Dani Olmo has been pivotal in retaining possession and functioned effectively as a weapon when it comes to closing out games, as seen in their straightforward victory over Austria in the Round of 32. Spain have also forced the most turnovers of possession (252) of any team in the tournament. The data collectively highlights how the combined pressure, possession, and pressing intensity have shaped the World Cup’s later stages.
For readers seeking SEO-friendly insight, these narratives underscore the link between ball retention, high-quality chances, and disciplined pressing in driving teams toward success at the World Cup. The numbers illustrate not just who is scoring, but who is controlling games through movement, pace, and tactical discipline.