Brahim Díaz has emerged as the leading marksman of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the completion of the round of 16, with the Moroccan forward now setting the pace in a fiercely contested scoring chart ahead of the quarter-finals.
The Real Madrid attacker has been one of the tournament’s standout figures, combining sharp movement with clinical finishing to reach four goals, a return that places him alone at the top of the leaderboard as the competition enters its decisive phase.
His exploits have helped Morocco maintain momentum on home soil, where expectations have continued to rise with each knockout victory.
Behind Díaz, the race is exceptionally tight.
Seven players are locked together on three goals apiece, ensuring that the Golden Boot remains wide open with only a handful of matches left to play.
Nigeria and Morocco, the two sides with the deepest attacking reserves in the competition so far, are also the only nations to boast more than one player in the top eight, underlining their collective strength in the final third.
Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen have both found the net three times, forming a potent partnership that has driven the Super Eagles into the quarter-finals.
Lookman’s pace and movement have troubled defences throughout the group stage and knockout round, while Osimhen’s physical presence has provided a constant focal point in the box.
Ivory Coast are represented by Amad Diallo, whose three goals have come at crucial moments for the Elephants, while Mali’s Lassine Sinayoko has also reached the same tally, continuing a breakthrough tournament that has caught the eye of scouts across the continent.
Morocco’s attacking depth is reflected in Ayoub El Kaabi’s position among the leading scorers.
With three goals of his own, he has ensured that the hosts are not solely reliant on Díaz for their attacking output, a factor that could prove decisive as the margins become finer.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, ever reliable on the continental stage, remains firmly in the hunt with three goals, as does Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez, whose experience and composure have been vital for the Desert Foxes in pressure situations.
The provisional ranking of the leading scorers after the round of 16 is as follows:
1 – Brahim Díaz (Morocco) – 4 goals
2 – Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) – 3 goals
3 – Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) – 3 goals
4 – Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco) – 3 goals
5 – Lassine Sinayoko (Mali) – 3 goals
6 – Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – 3 goals
7 – Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) – 3 goals
8 – Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) – 3 goals
With the quarter-finals looming, the battle for the tournament’s top-scorer honour is finely balanced.
One goal could reshape the entire standings, and with so many of the leading contenders still in the competition, the coming fixtures are likely to have a significant impact on the final outcome.
For now, Brahim Díaz holds the advantage, but the chasing pack remains within touching distance, setting the stage for a thrilling finish to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations scoring race.
