Five forwards who impressed during group stage of FIFA World Cup 2022

Each of these attackers have led the line for their respective countries.

The race for the Golden Boot at the FIFA World Cup 2022 is in full swing, with some of the most dangerous goal-scorers taking their skills to the biggest stage.

Harry Kane was the top goalscorer in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, he still has to score his first goal in Qatar this year. Who will win the prized trophy this time?

Kane is still a strong favourite to win the Golden Boot for the second tournament in a row, which has never happened before. However, he'll have plenty of competition from players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Neymar, Memphis Depay, Mehdi Taremi, Enner Valencia, and others.

Some unexpected names have emerged during the group stages as these forward impressed the crowd with their ability to score beautiful goals. Here are the top five forwards, who impressed in the FIFA World Cup 2022 group stage.

5. Kylian Mbappe (France) - 3 goals

The French team's World Cup hopes appear to rest on the shoulders of Mbappe. In France's World Cup opener, he scored a goal and assisted another. Mbappe terrorised the Socceroos with his deadly turn of pace.

In the second, he seized the game by the scruff of the neck from Denmark. He made a menacing run and scored with his first shot to beat Kasper Schmeichel. Then, the PSG player bundled home the game-winning goal to send Les Blues into the round of 16.

4. Alvaro Morata (Spain) - 3 goals

Morata scored one goal in Spain's annihilation of Costa Rica. Then he scored a vital goal off the bench against Germany by flicking Jordi Alba's cross past Manuel Neuer. Against Japan, he scored his third goal of the tournament on a header from a cross by Cesar Azpilicueta.

3. Enner Valencia (Ecuador) - 3 goals

Enner Valencia scored twice in Ecuador's 2-0 triumph over hosts Qatar to get his team off to a winning start in this year's World Cup. If not for the use of VAR, he would have scored a hat trick. After the first half, he extended his hot scoring streak with a tap-in to tie the game for Ecuador against the Netherlands.

2. Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) - 3 goals

Gakpo's header proved to be the game-winner as the Netherlands opened with a 2-0 victory over Senegal. After that, he scored the opening goal in a tie with Ecuador with his bad foot. The PSV attacker gave his team the lead for the third straight game with a well-placed goal, helping them to a 2-0 victory over the hosts Qatar.

1. Marcus Rashford (England) - 3 goals

England's opening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup was a 6-2 thumping of Iran, and Marcus Rashford scored a magnificent solo goal in that game.

Rashford scored twice to inspire England to a 3-0 victory over Wales. Of his two goals, the first, from a free-kick, was the best (also the 1st direct free-kick of this tournament). The second goal he scored was England's 100th in World Cup play.