Copa America 2024 kicked off in some style with defending champions Argentina thrashing Canada 2-0 in the tournament opener. In the same group, Chile and Peru drew their first match of the campaign.
Argentina started the tournament as the favorites to defend their title, whereas players like Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez will be among those battling for the Golden Boot race. In Group B, Mexico secured a comfortable 1-0 win over Jamaica whereas Ecuador sustained a 2-1 defeat to Venezuela with their captain Enner Valencia sent off in the country’s opening game.
Host nation USA played the first Group C game, defeating Bolivia 2-0 with stunning goals from Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun. So far, there is not a single player who has scored more than one goal in the opening match of Copa America 2024. 15-time champions Uruguay produced an exciting game as they smashed Panama 3-1.
Group D produced some exciting games as well, with Colombia securing three points against Paraguay. Brazil, one of the tournament’s favorites drew their first game against Costa Rica and are lying second on the table.
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Copa America 2024 Golden Boot Standings
A total of 16 teams will be participating in the 2024 edition of Copa America held in the United States. Players like Lionel Messi, Vinicius Junior and Luis Suarez were expected to be in the battle for the Golden Boot but neither has found the back of the net. In 2021, Lionel Messi and Luis Diaz shared the Golden Boot trophy after scoring four goals each. Hence, this list will cover just the top 5 players who have secured a goal in their first game of the tournament.
5. Julio Enciso (Paraguay)
The Paraguayan striker continued in his rich vein of form, scoring in his country’s 2-1 defeat to Colombia on Monday night. He scored a right-footed volley in the 69th minute to mark his first international goal for his country.
The 21-year-old plays as a forward for Brighton & Hove Albion and has bagged four goals and five assists in 41 appearances across all competitions.
4. Darwin Nunez (Uruguay)
The Liverpool striker scored a sensational goal against Panama in Uruguay’s opening game of the tournament. Nunez leads the line for Marcelo Bielsa’s side with Luis Suarez on the bench. He attempted more shots than any player on that night (5) but missed two crucial chances. The Liverpool No.9 should continue to play a crucial role for his country in this summer tournament.
Since the arrival of Bielsa last summer, Nunez has bagged nine goals and two assists in eight games for La Celeste.
3. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina)
The Inter Milan skipper showed his value to his team as he came on as a substitute to net his first goal of the tournament in the 88th minute against Canada. He scored to put his team 2-0 ahead in the dying embers assisted by none other than team captain Lionel Messi.
Lautaro Martinez had a sensational campaign with Inter Milan in which he registered 24 Serie A goals and was the league’s top-scorer.
2. Christian Pulisic (USA)
One of the most prolific scorers in his country’s history, Pulisic will be leading the USMNT squad to their fifth Copa America tournament this summer. The former Chelsea forward netted a brilliant goal against Bolivia in just three minutes in their opening game of the competition. A lot of expectations have been shouldered upon the USMNT captain who is their most important player in the tournament.
Pulisic also set up a goal for Monaco forward Folarin Balogun who struck a shot low at the far post just a minute before half-time to seal the game for the host nation.
1. Julian Alvarez (Argentina)
The Manchester City striker is our top pick to win the Copa America 2024 Golden Boot, Alvarez got off to a good start to this tournament in his team’s 2-0 win over Canada. It was Julian’s first goal in the oldest national team tournament, Copa America.
The defending champions will take on Chile on June 26 and Alvarez will have the opportunity to cement his status as one of the most dangerous strikers in the tournament.
Copa America 2024 Golden Boot standings
| Player | Team | Matches | Goals |
| Julian Alvarez | Argentina | 1 | 1 |
| Christian Pulisic | USA | 1 | 1 |
| Lautaro Martínez | Argentina | 1 | 1 |
| Darwin Nunez | Uruguay | 1 | 1 |
| Julio Enciso | Paraguay | 1 | 1 |
| Jeremy Sarmiento | Ecuador | 1 | 1 |
| Folarin Balogun | USA | 1 | 1 |
| Jhonder Cádiz | Venezuela | 1 | 1 |
| Maximiliano Araújo | Uruguay | 1 | 1 |
| Gerardo Arteaga | Mexico | 1 | 1 |
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