Here's the Club World Cup top scorer race: leading goal scorers and teams ahead of the semifinals

Real Madrid has evolved in a surprising way since Xabi Alonso decided to take charge of the team right before the Club World Cup. The coach from Tolosa implemented many changes in the ways and methods of training and preparing for matches, changes that have translated into results that meet expectations.

So much so that the coach from Tolosa has placed Real Madrid among the four best clubs in the competition organized by FIFA. The fact that the Merengue club is in the semifinals is not the only significant event that has happened in recent weeks, especially because there are some players who are standing out match after match.

Gonzalo García is one of the "chosen ones" in Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid. The Basque coach needed a player to replace Endrick, who is injured and recovering in Valdebebas, as well as Kylian Mbappé. The Bondy forward was expected to be a regular starter, but an acute gastroenteritis ended those plans.

Gonzalo García has risen to the occasion, becoming the top scorer in the world tournament: he has scored four goals in five matches, only failing to score against Pachuca. These numbers make him the leading candidate to win the top scorer award at the Club World Cup, with a certain margin over the second-placed player.

He is practically alone

Most of the records belong to players who, due to their elimination in earlier rounds, don't have the opportunity to increase their goal tally. Players like Ángel di María, Serhou Guirassy, and Marcos Leonardo also have four goals... but they lack the opportunity to try to surpass Gonzalo García because they're out of the Club World Cup.

Michael Olise, Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, Phil Foden, and Erling Haaland each have three goals. The footballers from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, eliminated in the quarterfinals and round of 16 respectively, occupy intermediate positions in the Club World Cup top scorer table.

Other players who also won't be able to increase their current tally of three goals in five matches are Wessam Abou Ali, from Al-Ahly, and the Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz, from Juventus of Turin. As things stand, the only footballer who can offer some competition to Gonzalo García is under Enzo Maresca's orders, and will face Fluminense in the other semifinal.

Pedro Neto's three goals considerably reduce the margin in the race for the top scorer award at the Club World Cup. For now, Gonzalo García is the leading candidate to win this individual recognition... although it can't be forgotten that the forwards from other clubs present in the semifinals will try to close the gap despite having fewer than three goals.