2023 U-17 World Cup Top Scorers: Kaua Elias and Rento Takaoka Vie for the Top Spot

The group stage of the 2023 U-17 World Cup concluded on Saturday, November 18, 2023. Indonesia was eliminated and failed to advance to the round of 16 after four teams—Iran, Japan, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela—secured top-three positions in their groups.

Who were the top scorers in the group stage?

According to Transfermarkt, two players are tied for the top spot: Kaua Elias (Brazil) and Rento Takaoka, both with 4 goals.

Elias scored three goals in Brazil's 9-0 victory against New Caledonia on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, achieving his first international hat-trick. His latest goal came in the final Group C match against England on Friday, November 17, 2023, contributing to Brazil's 2-1 win (his goal scored in the 43rd minute).

Unlike Elias, Takaoka is a substitute player for the Japanese national team. In the three previous matches, he only started once.

However, this striker, who emerged from inter-school competitions, scored in every match he played.

Most recently, Takaoka secured a victory for the Samurai Blue with a brace in their final Group A match against Senegal on Friday, November 17, 2023.

Elias and Takaoka are followed by eight other players competing for the top scorer title at the 2023 U-17 World Cup, each with two goals.

Here is the provisional top scorer list for the 2023 U-17 World Cup as of November 20, 2023, according to Transfermarkt:

1. Kaua Elias (Brazil): 4 goals
2. Rento Takaoka (Japan): 4 goals
3. Amirbek Saidov (Uzbekistan): 3 goals
4. Stefano Carrillo (Mexico): 3 goals
5. Joan Tincres (France): 3 goals
6. Nimfasha Berchimas (USA): 3 goals
7. Agustin Ruberto (Argentina): 3 goals
8. Mamadou Doumbia (Mali): 3 goals
9. Rayan (Brazil): 3 goals
10. Idrissa Gueye (Senegal): 3 goals

No Indonesian players are on this list. Garuda Muda's star striker, Arkhan Kaka, only managed two goals against Panama and Ecuador.

He was unable to add to his tally as Indonesia failed to progress further in the 2023 U-17 World Cup.

((See also: Top 5 Most Expensive Indonesian National Team Players at the 2023 U-17 World Cup: Arkhan Kaka at the Top))