In this year's World Cup more goals have been scored in the group stages than at any other World Cup with 32 teams competing. The tournament has seen 136 goals already, which tops the tallies of 130 and 126 in 2002 and 1998 respectively.

Games this year are averaging 2.83 goals per match. When factoring in finals matches, the last time teams scored so heavily was in 1970, with games averaging 2.96 goals scored. But it doesn't nearly compare to the 140 goals scored in 26 matches during the 1954 World Cup and at average of 5.38 per match.

This all means it's taken longer than ever to sift through every single goal and pick out the top 10 goals of the tournament so far.

Here are our best goals of the World Cup so far:

1) Neymar vs Croatia 

It had to be Neymar didn't it? The 22-year-old World Cup poster boy came into the tournament with an incredible weight on his shoulders to prove his worth on the biggest stage of them all. It took just 29 minutes for the Barcelona striker to join an elite list of Brazilians to score in a World Cup finals match. Neymar received the ball about 20 metres into Croatia's half and strung a right, left, right combo of deft touches to put himself within striking distance. From outside the 18 yard box, Neymar crunched a left footer all the way along the deck into the bottom right corner that sent the already vociferous crowd into absolute jubilation. When you see how tiny the gap is between the fingertips of Croatian keeper Stipe Pletikosa and the goalpost, you appreciate how good the strike actually was.

2) Robin Van Persie vs Spain 

Down 1-0 against World Champions Spain, Robin van Persie's incredible header was a sign of things to come. Daley Blind gave a long diagonal cross just outside his own half that somehow avoided all Spaniard defenders. With his eyes fixated on the path of the ball, Van Persie made a run, realised he had to make a last effort dive and headed the ball comfortably over the stranded Iker Casillas. The timing of the dive and arching of his back mid air makes this goal one of the more spectacular we've seen in recent years.

3) Claudio Marchisio vs England 

It probably wasn't the most significant goal of the game given Mario Balotelli's match-winning header in the second half, but for sheer confidence in one's ability, Claudio Marchisio takes the cake. A clever corner from the right side was given to Andrea Pirlo and as a result the defence rushed up. But just like Trent Hodgskinson in Origin two, Pirlo threw a dummy through his legs to a waiting Marchisio in perfect position outside the box. With other options available, the Juventus midfielder took enough time to for an intial touch, before slamming home the first goal of the match into the bottom left corner. An honourable mention goes to Ballotelli for his back-post header to seal the game for Italy and put England on their way to an early World Cup exit.

4) Lionel Messi vs Iran 

After a cracking 65th-minute goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Argentina's favourite son stepped up with an absolute pearler against Iran when his side needed him most. Messi trapped the ball with his left foot about 25 metres from goal. Three very small touches on his left boot, before a lightning quick outside heel gave him space on his left foot, but even then, he had his work cut out. The kick perfectly bent around defenders and sneaked into the top left corner. And while the crowd went into pandemonium, Messi celebrated it as though it was nothing more than a training drill.

5) Tim Cahill vs Netherlands 

"The ball's dangerous. Tim Cahill. Ohhhhh. Can you believe it? He's done it again! Tim Cahill equalises for Australia and produces another golden moment in World Cup football!" Without a doubt, patriotism aside, Tim Cahill's wonder-strike against the Netherlands is the best goal we've seen at the tournament so far. It was a 'where were you when?' kind of moment. Whether or not Ryan McGowan's cross was intended for Cahill is another matter, but the pure timing of Cahill's left footer, on the volley, left commentators, fans and celebrities singing his praises. With his eyes fixated on the target, Cahill's strike was so powerful it beat Netherlands keeper Jasper Cillessen for pace and crashed into the top netting. A goal for the ages.

6) Xherdan Shaqiri vs Honduras

Swiss star Shaqiri joined Thomas Mueller in the hat-trick club for this year's World Cup, but it was his first goal against Honduras that was his best. Shaqiri got the ball at his feet outside the box, but was being hassled by defender Juan Carlos Garcia. Instead of passing off to someone in space, Shaqiri made his own space by dribbling across field somewhat like a crab. Garcia didn't stay with his man which gave the Bayern Munich midfielder just enough space to smash a superb left-footer into the top left corner.

7) Gervinho vs Columbia

This is probably the best solo effort we've seen at the World Cup. Ivory Coast's winger Gervinho began on the left wing, used a bit of fancy football to sneak through two Columbina defenders on the side of the box like a slippery snake. He then looked up and realised he had to beat another defender. Not a problem. Gervinho used his outside heel and in the process fooled Cristian Zapata to the point that he fell over. With a narrow gap to goalkeeper David Ospina's right, Gervinho finished his superb individual effort with a right footer right where he wanted it to go. 

8) David Villa vs Australia

Melbourne's City's newest recruit David Villa scored the opener against Australia with a superb backheel. Andres Iniesta gave a nice through ball to Juanfranm who then fired an on the deck cross to Villa. With the cross slightly behind him, Villa's only option was to flick the ball back with his inner right foot which beat Maty Ryan and gave Spain a 1-0 lead. Cheeky from you David. Melbourne fans will be hoping he can replicate this fine form when he comes down under for a 10-game stint in the A-League.

9) Arjen Robben vs Spain

Robben made a break away through middle and in the process made Spaniard defender Gerard Pique look very slow indeed. Pique desperately signalled to Iker Casillas to come off his line, which he obligingly did. The only problem was that Robben has already dribbled around Casillas which left the keeper well out of position. Robben then crunched a left footer (a common trend in this list) past two hapless defenders on their goal line trying to get in the road of the shot.

10) Lionel Messi vs Nigeria

In the 44th minute, Messi had a free kick well outside the box which was deflected by Nigerian keeper Austin Ejide. From almost the exact same just spot two minutes later, Messi bent his signature left foot kick centimetres over the wall and into the top right corner. With four goals to his name this tournament already, the 27-year-old has without a doubt scored more quality goals than anyone this tournament.