Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez equals 96-year-old Uruguay goalscoring record

Darwin Nunez equalled a 96-year-old Uruguay goalscoring record during his side’s Copa America trashing of Bolivia on Thursday night. 

Marcelo Bielsa’s team won 5-0 at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey with goals coming through Facundo Pellistri, Nunez, Maximiliano Araujo, Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur. 

La Celeste sit top of their group, with six points from two matches, and are virtually assured of their place in the knockouts due to a very healthy-looking goal difference. 

They play the United States on Monday night, with the USMNT suffering a shock loss on home soil to Panama in their second group stage game. 

Uruguay began well, playing what was described by El Observador as “high-voltage” football in the first half and taking an early lead through Manchester United’s Pellistri. 

It was then time for Darwin to set his record, albeit ruining an Edinson Cavani tribute in the process. 

A campaign had earlier spread across Uruguayan social media networks to pay homage to the striker, who announced his retirement from international football just before the tournament began. 

Nunez spoils homage to Cavani

Fans were to applaud and chant for Cavani throughout the 20th minute before replicating his famous bow and arrow celebration in the stands in the 21st minute - matching the shirt number Cavani wore for most of his career in light blue. 

As luck would have it, Darwin raced onto an Araujo through ball right at the onset of the celebrations, smashing an accurate left-footed effort past the Bolivian goalkeeper. 

A goal would have to serve as a tribute instead. 

Nunez equals Uruguay scoring record

It was Nunez’s 13th goal for Uruguay and marked a run of SEVEN consecutive games in which he has scored. 

That equals a long-standing record, first set 96 years ago by legendary striker Hector Scarone - a two-time Olympic champion and a World Cup winner in 1930. 

If Nunez nets on Monday against the USA, he will be out on his own as a record-holding Uruguay striker. 

The Liverpool man has now scored 10 goals in his last seven matches - his international career truly catching light under former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa. 

There was widespread praise across Uruguayan media for Nunez’s performance, having thundered SEVEN shots on the Bolivia goal during the first half alone. 

He was replaced by Liverpool favourite Luis Suarez late on with Bielsa opting to give Nunez a rest ahead of the USA clash. 

The 25-year-old sits top of the scoring charts for Copa America 2024, on two goals, alongside teammate Aruajo as well as Lautaro Martinez and Folarin Balogun.