The ongoing Copa America 2024 is witnessing a fierce battle among the top forwards participating in the tournament in the Golden Boot standings. Following the conclusion of the round 3 of the South American Championship, the top goal scorers’ race has become interesting, with some new names bursting into scenes and several big players falling behind. In the final group stage games, some contests have been goal galore, courtesy of the star forwards’ clinical finishes.
Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez has become an attacking superpower for his nation, who, despite starting as a substitute in the first two games, performed extraordinarily to register his name in the Copa America 2024 Golden Boot race. Several more elite forwards including the likes of Vinicius Junior and Darwin Nunez have also made it to the most goals tally through their game-changing displays so far.
Till round 2 of the tournament, these attackers showed composure and calmness on the field at the final third. But, keeping the importance of the goal difference rule in mind, they broke loose in the final group stage fixtures, which allowed themselves to wreak havoc in the oppositions’ goal box. And now, on the cusp of the quarter-finals, the Copa America 2024 Golden Boot standings have been shaped interestingly.
Copa America 2024 Golden Boot Standings
5. Maximiliano Araujo (Uruguay)
The Uruguayan midfielder has been breathing fire since the beginning of the Copa America 2024. In the first match against Panama, Maximiliano Araujo opened the scoring for La Celeste. Collecting a beautiful pass from his teammate Vina, the 24-year-old Deportivo Toluca FC attacker executed a clinical finish to put his team ahead and put up his name on the leaderboard.
In the 5-0 victory against Bolivia, Araujo was once at the receiving end of a through ball orchestrated by de La Cruz beside the penalty box in the 77th minute. He didn’t hesitate to score the third for his nation in the game. Later, coach Marcelo Bielsa also praised his finishing and calmness in that tight position. In three matches, the midfielder has 2 goals and 1 assist to his name.
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4. Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
The Brazilian prodigy is still enjoying his fine run of form which has already brought him accolades such as La Liga and Champions League titles in club football. After firing blank against Costa Rica in their Copa America 2024 opener, in the very next game, Vinicius Junior showed the world why he is the frontrunner to win this year’s Ballon d’or title.
Following a string of skillful displays, which he is widely known for, Vinicius found the back of the net with a picture perfect finish to make it 2-0 against Paraguay. Lucas Paqueta placed a low through pass before the Real Madrid superstar pounced on it and beat the goalkeeper to produce one of the beautiful goals in the Copa America 2024 so far. His second goal of the tournament came on the stroke of first-half when a defensive error led the ball to the feet of the young forward. An onrushing Vinicius tapped the ball in to send the Paraguayans into oblivion.
3. Darwin Nunez (Uruguay)
Darwin Nunez has been making headlines since his first match in this South American soccer Championship. Following a series of hard efforts, the Liverpool forward found his first goal of the tournament in the 85th minute against Panama.
He scored his second of the tournament with a pin-point finish in goal-fest against Bolivia. The tall striker was put through by Maximiliano Araujo with an awaited pass, and Nunez slotted it home with a first-time left-footed strike. He is looking hungry for goals in this tournament and is expected to score more in the upcoming days.
2. Daniel Munoz (Colombia)
The most surprising name on the golden boot standings is Daniel Munoz. While James Rodriguez has been pulling strings for the Colombians, Munoz, despite being a defender, has been bringing important goals for his nation. The Crystal Palace right-back scored the opening goal of the tournament for Colombia in their first game against Paraguay.
Later, in an all-important match against Brazil, the right-back found himself unguarded near the Brazil penalty box before producing a powerful shot to find the equalizer for Colombia.
1. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina)
Lautaro Martinez has been the savior of Argentina in every game of the Copa America 2024 so far. He has also become the only player to have scored in every single game in this edition of the South American Championship. The Inter Milan talisman put his name on the most goals scored list through a 88th minute goal against Canada, that put the time to bed.
In the second game against La Albiceleste’s old foes, Chile, it was Martinez again, who bailed Scaloni’s team out with the only goal of the match, that too in the 88th minute after coming off the bench. He continued his goal scoring streak and netted a brace in the final group fixture against Peru. The 26-year-old currently leads the Copa America 2024 golden boot standings with four goals from three matches and is favorite to finish as the top goal getter.
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