Surprising Leaders in World Cup Goals

The 2026 World Cup group stage has wrapped up, and some unexpected teams are leading the Premier League scoring race. Crystal Palace and Sunderland players scored more goals than stars from Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City. It shows that big clubs aren’t the only ones with top scorers on the world stage.

Crystal Palace’s World Cup Stars

Crystal Palace fans have plenty to cheer about. Their players found the net often during the group stage. Key performers included:

• Eberechi Eze netted three goals for England
• Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice for France
• Michael Olise added two assists and one goal for Ivory Coast

Because of these efforts, Palace players scored seven goals total, leading all Premier League clubs.

Sunderland’s Goal Scorers

Sunderland matched Crystal Palace’s total with seven goals from their players. The Black Cats’ attack was led by a few standout stars:

• Jobe Bellingham scored four goals for England
• Jack Clarke contributed two goals for England
• Dan Ballard netted one goal for Northern Ireland

Sunderland’s young squad showed they can compete with the best on the biggest stage.

Other Premier League Clubs Close Behind

Arsenal and Liverpool each had six goals from their players, while Manchester City scored five. Tottenham and Chelsea also had strong showings with four goals each. The difference came down to a few clutch performances from Palace and Sunderland players.

This top ranking surprised many fans because neither Crystal Palace nor Sunderland finished near the top of the Premier League last season.

Looking Ahead to the Knockout Stage

As the World Cup moves into the knockout rounds, Premier League players from all clubs will try to add more goals. But for now, Crystal Palace and Sunderland can celebrate leading the pack. Their strong group-stage performances give both clubs bragging rights back home.