Five threats to Messi as top scorer in CONMEBOL qualifying

The list of the leading goal-scorers in the South American qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2026™ is yet another race led by Lionel Messi. With six goals in the preliminaries, the Argentinian hitman claimed the top spot after netting a hat-trick against Bolivia on Matchday 10.

Before the 6-0 thrashing of the Bolivians, Messi wasn’t even the leading goalscorer for Argentina in his own right. Surprisingly, he had the same three-goal tally as centre-back, Nicolas Otamendi. Within the Albiceleste, the biggest contenders, apart from Messi, are Julian Alvarez and Nico Gonzalez, with two goals each.

But whoever thinks Messi will reign supreme as the leading marksman may be in for a surprise come the final eight rounds of qualifying. We’ve picked five players who are expected to be hot on the heels of the World Cup winner.

Darwin Nunez, Uruguay (5 goals)
Next games: Colombia (home) and Brazil (away)

Uruguay need Nunez more than ever at this moment. Without a win in normal time in their last ten matches, Uruguay will be counting on their top scorer to return to his old form under Marcelo Bielsa. There aren’t any easy fixtures for the Celeste in this window, with games against Colombia and Brazil. Nunez started the campaign with five goals in six games, before being suspended due to an incident in the Copa America, causing him to miss Uruguay’s September qualifiers. He failed to score in his return in October’s qualifiers, but a goal for Liverpool last weekend bodes well.

Luis Diaz, Colombia (4 goals)
Next games: Uruguay (away) and Ecuador (home)

Colombia has been performing exceptionally well in the qualifiers, and in the midst of this strong form, Diaz has a shot at finishing as the top scorer. With four goals in ten matches so far, the tricky left winger is exhibiting the same form for Colombia as he has in a Liverpool shirt this season. As if his dribbling and dynamism weren’t enough, he comes off five goals in the Premier League and a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League.

Raphinha, Brazil (3 goals)
Next games: Venezuela (away) and Uruguay (home)

It’s hard to find anyone playing better than Raphinha at the start of the 2024/25 season. In superb form at Barcelona, where he has taken on the captain’s armband, the attacking midfielder has been involved in 20 goals in 18 games. In his last game for Brazil, he scored two penalties in the demolition of Peru. With the Seleção on the up, Raphinha can be a source of creativity and inspiration in Dorival Junior’s attacking setup.

Miguel Terceros, Bolivia (3 goals)
Next games: Ecuador (away) and Paraguay (home)

At the start of qualifying, it would have been difficult to imagine the name of Terceros featuring on the top scorers’ list. But the young, attacking midfielder has demonstrated his worth and goal-scoring instinct in the continental competition. In Bolivia’s last four games, he has found the net three times, helping his country get back into the race for a World Cup spot. With another home game in El Alto, where Bolivia are very strong, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Terceros add to his haul in November.

Salomon Rondon, Venezuela (3 goals)
Next games: Brazil (home) and Chile (away)

A Venezuelan footballing legend, Rondon is still capable of carrying the charge for La Vinotinto. During the last FIFA window, his goal secured a well-deserved draw against Messi’s Argentina. The goal also ended his drought in the qualifiers – Rondon had not scored since October 2023. In the Copa America however, he scored three goals in four games. With Venezuela battling to go to their first ever World Cup, their experienced top scorer will need all the goals he can get.