Some of the best forwards in the world are competing in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, looking to fire their teams to Germany.
Stars like Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo are all hoping to fire their nations to the next European Championship, where Italy will hope to defend the crown they won in 2021.
Here’s which players have the most goals in the qualifiers thus far.
Goals: 3
Assists: 0
Minutes per goal: 30
For all of the talent in their ranks in recent years, Denmark have lacked a top striker, but Rasmus Hojlund may be about to change that. He got a hat-trick on debut against Finland.
Goals: 3
Assists: 0
Minutes per goal: 19
Renato Steffen got one goal in his first 29 caps for Switzerland and then went and scored three in his 30th against Belarus. Like London buses.
Goals: 3
Assists: 0
Minutes per goal: 28
Romelu Lukaku put his nightmare of a World Cup – in which he missed three huge opportunities to prevent his nation from going out in the group stages – behind him in his first international match since, getting a hat-trick against Sweden.
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Goals: 2
Assists: 1
Minutes per goal: 37
Marcel Sabitzer hasn’t set the world alight since joining Manchester United, but he did for Austria against Azerbaijan, scoring two and creating one of his nation’s four goals.
Goals: 2
Assists: 1
Minutes per goal: 45
France’s match against the Netherlands was their first with Kylian Mbappe as captain and the 24-year-old led by example, getting two excellent goals and an assist in a 4-0 drubbing.
Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Minutes per goal: 4
Joselu made a stunning substitute appearance for Spain against Norway, coming off the bench in the 81st minute and getting goals in the 83rd and 85th to seal the three points for his nation on his debut.
Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Minutes per goal: 11
Scott McTominay was only brought on for the final 22 minutes of Scotland’s match against Cyprus but made the most of his time on the pitch, scoring his side’s second and third goals.
Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Minutes per goal: 39
Many expected Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career to finish after the World Cup but he had other ideas, making himself available for the first Euro 2024 qualifiers. He scored twice against Liechtenstein – one penalty and one free-kick – after being given a start by new boss Roberto Martinez.
Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Minutes per goal: 45
Bosnia & Herzegovina picked up a big win in the first match of their qualifying campaign, beating Iceland 3-0, and Rade Krunic was their key man, finding the back of the net twice from midfield.
Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Minutes per goal: 45
Northern Ireland had a tough time of things against minnows San Marino, struggling to break their opponents down, but their blushes were spared by Bolton’s Dion Charles, who got both of their goals.
Source: News