Cristian Tarragona on fire, Unión enjoy the year's top scorer | OneFootball

Cristian Tarragona took his words personally. After Unión’s defeat to San Lorenzo in Boedo, the striker had left a remark that quickly made waves: he complained about the lack of scoring chances the team had created and, especially, about the few opportunities that had come his way.

“We were missing scoring chances,” Tarragona had said after that match. And the answer came in the way a striker knows best: with goals.

First it was in Mar del Plata, where Unión earned an important 3-1 win over Aldosivi. Tarragona struck twice in the second half to turn the game around and become one of the standout figures in the victory. But he did not stop there.

This Friday, at the 15 de Abril, he was once again the main man. Tarragona scored two more goals against Sarmiento to lead the 4-1 rout and give El Tatengue its second straight win in the Clausura Tournament.

Four goals in two matches for Tarragona at Unión

The stats clearly show the impact Tarragona had on Unión’s revival. After that night in Boedo, the striker put together four goals in just two matches. He scored twice against Aldosivi and repeated the feat against Sarmiento.

Against El Verde, he also opened the scoring with a real gem: he received the ball far from the box and unleashed a shot from distance that beat Thyago Ayala. In the second half he popped up again to score his team’s second and complete his brace.

In that way, Tarragona became a key piece in Unión’s effort to turn its campaign around.

The top scorer leading the way in 2026

The red-and-white striker’s current form is not only reflected in the last two matches. His numbers throughout the season put him at the top of a very particular table.

Cristian Tarragona is the top scorer in Argentine football in 2026, counting the goals scored in the Apertura Tournament, the Clausura Tournament, and the Copa Argentina.

The top scorers of 2026

Cristian Tarragona — 15 goals

Agustín Módica — 12 goals

Gabriel Ávalos — 11 goals

Jordy Caicedo — 11 goals

Junior Marabel — 10 goals

Tarragona’s output breaks down as follows: 8 goals in the Apertura, 5 in the Clausura, and 2 in the Copa Argentina.

In other words, the Unión striker scored in all three competitions the team has played, and he currently has a three-goal lead over Agustín Módica, his closest challenger.

The response Unión needed

Tarragona’s scoring explosion is also especially good news for Leonardo Madelón.

The striker had expressed his frustration after the match against San Lorenzo because he felt Unión was not creating enough chances for its forwards. Since then, the team has improved its attacking production, and Tarragona has made the most of every opportunity he has had.

First came two goals to turn the match around against Aldosivi, and then another two to put Sarmiento away. El Tatengue won both matches and picked up six points that helped get its Clausura campaign back on track.

In addition, the 4-1 win over the Junín side marked Unión’s second consecutive victory and a performance that temporarily moved it into the playoff spots.

Tarragona found his best version

At 35, Tarragona is going through one of the most outstanding stretches of his recent career. He is the top scorer in Argentine football in 2026 and the man carrying much of Unión’s resurgence.

The striker asked for more scoring chances in Boedo. The response from his teammates came, and he did the rest.

Four goals in two matches, 15 this year, and the top of the scoring charts. Tarragona spoke, waited for his chances, and now he is turning them into gold for Unión.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.