The Importance of Goals in Soccer: A Comparison of Goals Scored in the Last Five World Cups in Terms of Different Parameters

This study aimed to compare the goals scored in the FIFA World Cups organized in 2006 Germany, 2010 South Africa, 2014 Brazil, 2018 Russia, 2022 Qatar in terms of different parameters. For the research, the data obtained by the Matchball analysis company as a result of the analysis of the FIFA World Cups held in 2006 Germany, 2010 South Africa, 2014 Brazil, 2018 Russia, and 2022 Qatar were used. The SPSS analysis program was used to analyze the data obtained in the research. In the study, it was determined that a total of 804 goals were scored in the last five world cups, and the highest number of goals scored in the last five world cups was in the 2022 World Cup with 172 goals. It was determined that the tournament with the highest ratio of goals scored in the last five World Cups to the total number of goals scored was the 2022 World Cup with an average of 2.69 goals per match. It was determined that the most 44 (29.93) of the goals scored in the last five World Cups were scored between 76-90th minutes in the 2006 World Cup. As a result of the research, it was determined that 38 (49,35) of the goals scored in the last five World Cups were scored as a result of free kicks in the 2006 World Cup, 94 (54,98) of the goals scored in the 2014 World Cup, 159 (92,44) of the goals scored by strikers inside the penalty area in the 2014 World Cup and 143 (83,13) of the goals scored with the foot in the 2022 World Cup.