Malik Tillman has emerged as a frontrunner in the Golden Boot race at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, showcasing a remarkable transformation in his international career. After struggling to find the net in his initial appearances for the U.S. Men's National Team, Tillman has now found his scoring touch, with three goals in as many games during the tournament. This impressive feat positions him as a strong contender for the top goalscorer award, especially if the U.S. makes a deep run in the competition.

Tillman's sudden emergence as a key player for the USMNT has solidified his chances of securing a spot in Mauricio Pochettino's squad for next year's World Cup. Pochettino has lauded Tillman's talent and expressed his satisfaction with the player's progress, noting that Tillman is starting to realize his potential.

In the final group stage match against Haiti, Tillman continued his scoring streak, contributing to the U.S.'s 2-1 victory. Brenden Aaronson provided a precise cross that Tillman headed into the net. While Haiti managed to equalize, Patrick Agyemang secured the win for the U.S. later in the match. The U.S. Men's National Team finished the group stage with a perfect record, winning all three of their matches.

Currently, Tillman shares the lead in the Golden Boot race with Costa Rica's Manfred Ugalde and Mexico's Cesar Montes, each with three goals. However, Ugalde will miss the quarterfinal match against the U.S. due to yellow card accumulation, giving Tillman an opportunity to gain an advantage in the race for the Golden Boot.

The USMNT is set to face Costa Rica in the quarterfinals. A strong performance from Tillman in that match could further solidify his position as the leading candidate for the Golden Boot. While Tillman's recent goal-scoring form is new to the international stage, he has a proven track record at the club level, scoring goals for PSV Eindhoven.

Throughout Gold Cup history, Landon Donovan holds the record for the most goals scored, with 18 goals across six tournaments. Clint Dempsey follows with 15 goals in 5 tournaments.