Which country leads the Leagues Cup scoring charts so far?

Minnesota United forward Bongokuhle Hlongwane (21) celebrates his goal against the Puebla during the first half at Allianz Field.

Leagues Cup 2023 has already seen no less than 194 goals over the 64 games that have been played out so far. That’s an average of over three goals a game - showing that this tournament, which brings together teams from Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is no short of action. With the Round of 32 having finished this past Friday, here’s a look at which nationalities have put away the most goals so far.

This summer’s tournament features players from all over the world, with the likes of Sierra Leone and Gabon, as well as Germany and Finland, and the whole of the American continent. In total, players from at least 33 countries have found the net at least once over the course of the competition.

Here’s a rundown of the top five: In first place, with 34 goals, we find the United States, with Mexico close behind them on 28. Rounding out the podium is Argentina, with Lionel Messi leading the line along with another world champion in Thiago Almada. In fourth and fifth place, we find two other Latin American countries in Colombia and Uruguay, with 12 and 11 strikes respectively.

Among the standout players, it’s impossible not to mention two players in particular. The first is Messi, who finds himself in second place in the scoring charts. Not only has he led the way with his performances on the pitch, but also in his creative celebrations, given he has been emulating Marvel characters each time he’s found the net.

The second is South African forward Bongokuhle Hlongwane, the only player in the tournament so far to have hit six goals. In the three games he’s played, he’s scored a brace in all of them. He’ll be the main man for Minnesota United FC as they look to go all the way at Leagues Cup 2023.

Another player who’s made his mark is Brandon Vázquez, who has the distinction of scoring the quickest goal at Leagues Cup 2023 so far. He only needed 85 seconds to open the scoring in his team’s 3-1 win over **Chivas de Guadalajara**.