7 and counting: ‘Own goal’ leads World Cup scoring charts

While the world's most elite forwards arrived in North America with their eyes fixed on the Golden Boot, they are currently being outpaced by a rather embarrassing collective entity. As the group stage intense battles unfold, "own goal" has surged to the top of the tournament's scoring leaderboard with a staggering seven goals.

To put that into perspective, the actual human race for the Golden Boot is topped by Argentina's Lionel Messi and Canada's Jonathan David, who lead the chasing pack with 3 goals each. Behind them sits a heavyweight cluster of world-class finishers on 2 goals each, including the likes of Kylian Mbappe (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Harry Kane (England), and Kai Havertz (Germany). 

Yet, none of them can quite keep up with the rampant rate of defensive self-destruction

The expanded 48-team tournament has already seen a staggering seven own goals registered. At this rate, the 2026 edition is on a direct trajectory to shatter the all-time World Cup record of 12 defensive mishaps, set during the 2018 tournament in Russia.

The Daily Star Sports takes a look at how and when each of these costly defensive errors occurred:

Damian Bobadilla (Paraguay vs USA)
The 24-year-old midfielder suffered the ultimate nightmare just seven minutes into the encounter. Following fluid link-up play between Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic, Pulisic drove hard into the box and whipped in a dangerous low ball. In a desperate, sliding attempt to clear the danger, Bobadilla inadvertently sliced the ball directly into his own net, gifting the Americans an early lead.

Miro Muheim (Switzerland vs Qatar) 
In one of the most dramatic moments of the opening round, the Swiss substitute became the unfortunate protagonist deep into stoppage time. In the 94th minute, with Switzerland leading 1-0 and looking to see out the match, Qatar’s Homam Ahmed delivered a sumptuous late cross. Under intense physical pressure from Boualem Khoukhi, Muheim miscalculated his defensive header, sending the ball fizzing past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to hand Qatar a historic point.

Mohamed Hany (Egypt vs Belgium) 
Egypt had put on a spirited display and held a shocking 1-0 lead over European heavyweights Belgium following a first-half strike. However, their defensive resolve cracked in the 66th minute. Belgium launched a fierce assault down the flanks, putting immense pressure on the Pharaohs' low block. Egyptian right-back Mohamed Hany tried to intercept a dangerous cut-back across the face of the goal, but inadvertently turned it into his own net, letting Belgium escape with a 1-1 draw.

Yazan Al-Arab (Jordan vs Austria) 
Making their historic World Cup debut, Jordan fought remarkably well to equalise early in the second half. However, the relentless pressure of the Austrian attack took its toll in the 76th minute. Facing wave after wave of crosses, center-back Yazan Al-Arab mistimed a heavy clearance under immense physical pressure, turning the ball past his own keeper to break Jordanian hearts in an eventual 3-1 defeat.

Aymen Hussein (Iraq vs Norway) 
Typically reliable as Iraq's talismanic goalscorer at the other end of the pitch, the towering forward found himself back deep in his own penalty box defending a set-piece during the group stages. In an attempt to use his aerial prowess to clear a dangerous, inswinging corner-kick delivery, Hussein mistimed his jump, deflecting the ball backward into his own net.

Mohammed Manai (Qatar vs Canada) 
In a high-stakes encounter against co-hosts Canada, Qatar's defensive shape was stretched thin by rapid transitional play during the group stage. A low cross whipped into the six-yard box forced Manai into a compromised, back-to-goal defensive stance, resulting in an awkward deflection that left his goalkeeper completely stranded.

Cameron Burgess (Australia vs USA) 
The towering Socceroos defender fell victim to the USA's relentless wide threat later in the group stage. Dealing with a low, driving cross into the "corridor of uncertainty" between the goalkeeper and the defensive line, Burgess could not sort his feet out quickly enough while tracking backward, deflecting the ball past his own keeper.