31 players arriving at the World Cup in prolific form

Just like in any knockout competition, the difference between making it through and heading for an early exit could be just one goal. Therefore, these countries will be more confident knowing they have these in-form forwards in their team:

Luis Suarez (Uruguay / Barcelona)

31 goals in 51 appearances

Edinson Cavani (Uruguay / PSG)

40 goals in 48 appearances

Iago Aspas (Spain / Celta Vigo)

23 goals in 37 appearances

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Real Madrid)

44 goals in 44 appearances

Dries Mertens (Belgium / Napoli)

22 goals in 49 appearances

Romelu Lukaku (Belgium / Manchester United)

27 goals in 51 appearances

Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina / Juventus)

23 goals in 50 appearances

Paulo Dybala (Argentina / Juventus)

26 goals in 46 appearances

Sergio Aguero (Argentina / Manchester City)

30 goals in 39 appearances

Lionel Messi (Argentina / Barcelona)

45 goals in 54 appearances

Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool)

44 goals in 52 appearances

Timo Werner (Germany / RB Leipzig)

21 goals in 48 appearances

Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano (Mexico / PSV)

19 goals in 34 appearances

Radamel Falcao (Colombia / Monaco)

24 goals in 36 appearances

Robert Lewandowski (Poland / Bayern Munich)

41 goals in 48 appearances

Sadio Mane (Senegal / Liverpool)

29 goals in 44 appearances

Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia / Fulham)

12 goals in 20 appearances

Neymar (Brazil / PSG)

28 goals in 30 appearances

Roberto Firmino (Brazil / Liverpool)

27 goals in 54 appearances

Gabriel Jesus (Brazil / Manchester City)

17 goals in 42 appearances

Fyodor Smolov (Russia / Krasnodar)

14 goals in 24 appearances

Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Iran / AZ Alkmaar)

22 goals in 39 appearances

Jefferson Farfan (Peru / Lokomotiv Moscow)

14 goals in 32 appearances

Kylian Mbappe (France / PSG)

21 goals in 44 appearances

Florian Thauvin (France / Marseille)

26 goals in 54 appearances

Nabil Fekir (France / Lyon)

23 goals in 40 appearances

Antoine Griezmann (France / Atletico Madrid)

29 goals in 49 appearances

Marcus Berg (Sweden / Al Ain)

33 goals in 31 appearances

Raheem Sterling (England / Manchester City)

23 goals in 46 appearances

Harry Kane (England / Tottenham)

41 goals in 48 appearances

Jamie Vardy (England / Leicester City)

23 goals in 42 appearances