KANSAS CITY — The group stages of the first 48-team World Cup ended in a flurry of goals—a fitting conclusion to an eye-catching first round.

The opening phase of the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States witnessed a record 215 goals, at a higher rate per match — 2.99 — than any World Cup since the 1950s.

AFP Sport looks at what is behind the staggering numbers.

The race for the Golden Boot is often a sideshow, but this time it is anything but.

The world’s elite forwards are driving each other on in a captivating battle to finish as top scorer.

Lionel Messi leads the way with six goals, ahead of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Vinicius Junior and Erling Haaland, who have four apiece.

The long-standing single-tournament record of 13 goals set in 1958 by France’s Just Fontaine appears vulnerable but this is a tournament for records.

Messi, who did not start against Jordan on Saturday, now has 19 goals over six World Cups after adding to his tally in Argentina’s 3-1 win against Jordan.