Suarez bite and ban steals the group stage spotlight

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates his second goal during the 2014 World Cup Group F soccer match against Nigeria at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre, June 25, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Messi magic

Joining Neymar at the top of the scoring charts on four goals is Lionel Messi, who scored in all of Argentina's group games, while Thomas Mueller also netted four as Germany won their group comfortably.

For some, Messi can only earn his place among the all-time greats of football by shining at the World Cup and his dazzling performances in Brazil suggest he is on the right track.

The livewire forward danced through the Bosnia defence to score the winner in their opener, curled home a magnificent shot on the run to deny plucky Iran a point in stoppage time, then topped the lot with a stunning 20-yard free kick against Nigeria in a barnstorming Group F finale.

While Messi was scoring late, Clint Dempsey could barely have found the net any earlier. The US forward put his side ahead after just 30 seconds against Ghana, scoring the fifth fastest ever World Cup goal.

The lifeblood of any football tournament, goals have not been in short supply.

The first 16 games produced 49, an average of 3.06 per game and, while that explosive rate has tapered off somewhat to a 2.83 average, the tournament is well on its way to breaking the record of 171 scored at France 1998.

The group stage produced a record 136 goals, beating the previous mark by six set in 2002 in South Korea/Japan.