LEAGUES CUP 2023
Lionel Messi’s compatriot tops Leagues Cup scoring charts: who is Germán Berterame?
Inter Miami have impressed with two consecutive wins, but it is Monterrey’s Argentinian striker who boasts the best record in this year’s competition.
The group stage of the 2023 Leagues Cup will end on Monday evening when the final round of fixtures is concluded.
The revamped tournament has enjoyed a thrilling start to this year’s action, with the global attention bolstered by the introduction of Lionel Messi for Inter Miami. After playing two games Miami, who sit bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference, have picked up two wins and Messi has scored three goals.
But while his performances have been the most widely heralded, there is another name at the top of the Leagues Cup scoring charts.
Liga MX side Monterrey cruised through the group stages with two victories, helped by the incredible form of Argentinian striker Germán Berterame. In two games, Berterame has scored five goals.
He began the tournament with a brace in a 3-0 victory over Real Salt Lake. The 24-year-old then followed that up with a hat-trick in his side’s second fixture, a 4-2 win against Seattle Sounders, on Sunday night.
Unsurprisingly, that five-goal haul is more than any other player has managed in this year’s competition. Behind Berterame in the rankings, Brandon Vazquez, Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Daniel Gazdag have each scored four goals in the opening two games.
Who is Germán Berterame?
Monterrey’s Argentinian striker is leading the way in the Leagues Cup but few outside of South America will be familiar with Berterame.
Born in the Argentinian city of Villa Maria, he began his professional career with San Lorenzo. During three years with the team he struggled for first team opportunities, going on loan to Patronato in 2019. However his fortunes changed in 2019 when he got a move to Liga MX side Atlético San Luis.
At San Luis Berterame played 93 games across three seasons, contributing 31 goals. In his final year with San Luis he was named in the Liga MX All-Star team.
That good form brought about a move to Mexican giants Monterrey. Los Rayados finished top of the 2023 Clausura competition but lost out in the semi-finals to Chivas Guadalajara. They have started the 2023 Apertura campaign in good form, winning two and drawing one of their opening three fixtures.
Berterame was called up to play for Argentina U17 in 2015 but is yet to make an appearance for the senior side.