Abundant goals and record numbers in the World Cup.

The group stage of the first World Cup with 48 teams has concluded with a flurry of goals, in an exciting first round that captured attention.

The opening phase of the football festival in the United States, Canada, and Mexico witnessed a record number of goals totaling 215, averaging 2.99 goals per match; the highest rate in World Cup history since the 1950s.

Agence France-Presse highlights the reasons behind these astonishing numbers.

The race for the Golden Boot for the top scorer has long been considered a side event for football fans; but this time, things are completely different.

A select group of the world's strikers entered into fierce competition in an exciting battle for the top scorer title.

Argentinian star Lionel Messi leads the list with six goals, ahead of French players Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, Brazilian Vinícius Júnior, and Norwegian Erling Haaland, each with four goals.

It seems that the long-standing record of 13 goals in a single tournament, set by Frenchman Just Fontaine in 1958, is at risk, especially since the current edition of the World Cup is rich in record-breaking numbers.

As for Messi, who did not start against Jordan on Saturday, he raised his tally to 19 goals in six World Cups after adding another goal in Argentina's 3-1 victory over the "Nashama."

Joe Hart, the former England goalkeeper, believes it is difficult to handle the Adidas Trionda ball.

Hart stated to the BBC that goalkeepers are struggling to deal with low shots that have less spin.

The former goalkeeper said, "The calculation is not accurate. I feel that the ball reaches players a little faster than it seems when it leaves the foot."

He added that the Jabulani ball used in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was completely different, saying, "The Jabulani ball was terrifying, and it was very difficult to control; but once it was shot on goal, it was clear that you knew they would achieve great success."

The current edition of the World Cup features 48 teams for the first time, after having 32 teams in Qatar 2022.

This expansion has led to a disparity in the level of teams, allowing stars to exploit weak defenses; however, it is still difficult to draw definitive conclusions.