So, at World Cup 2022, do penalty shootout goals count towards the Golden Boot?
If so, that could be a godsend for a striker. Any player could feasibly score a goal a game up until the final, plus penalties in all three knockout rounds to up until the showpiece in order to hit double figures for the tournament as a whole.
Just look at Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi – who both scored their penalties in the shootout of the World Cup final. Well, unfortunately, it's not that simple.
Do penalty shootout goals count towards the Golden Boot at World Cup 2022?
No, penalties scored in shootouts do not count towards
Goals scored in shootouts are in fact considered outside of the conventions of a proper match: they don't count towards any tally in any competition – and equally goalkeepers' performances in shootouts don't count towards their statistics, either.
Penalties that are scored within the 90 minutes of a match – or the 120, should the game go to extra-time – are fair game. In the 2018 World Cup, Harry Kane scored six goals and 50% of those were from the spot. They all count, though: even the one that bounced in off his backside following a wayward Ruben Loftus Cheek effort.
Those who remember clearly enough, however, will recall that the England captain netted twice from 12 yards against Colombia in the last-16 of the World Cup – once during the 90 minutes and once in the penalty shootout that was eventually won by the Three Lions.
That would take Kane up to seven goals. But a penalty within the context of a shootout isn't actually a goal.
Glad to have cleared that one up – but to confirm, goals scored in third-place playoffs do count.
