Jonathan David continues his world-class play in Canada's men's soccer win over Suriname

Nothing is preordained in soccer, but if there was anything like a certainty before the Canadian men faced Suriname in Toronto on Tuesday night, it was that Jonathan David would score.

He did, of course, in the 23rd minute, the start of a decisive 3-0 victory for Canada in the second leg of its CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal, good for a 4-0 aggregate win.

Canada will now play the semifinal in Los Angeles in March and the Gold Cup in June.

"I don't know that he has any real weaknesses," head coach Jesse Marsch said of David after. "He's the most quietly confident person. If you ever sit down and talk with him, it's amazing how he's just himself. What a beautiful, beautiful thing."

The 24-year-old David has felt inevitable over the last several months, a run of form that has seen him emerge as one of the top young forwards in the world.

WATCH | Shaffelburg's scores twice to lead Canada past Suriname:

"It's just that sharpness that you feel when you get into the game, that first couple of minutes, that first couple of actions, you just feel good, confident, and after the rest comes," he said, when asked to describe his current, elevated state.

At Lille, his French club side, David is employed as a pure striker, a classic No. 9. He's claimed seven goals in 11 games in Ligue 1 and torn through this season's Champions League, scoring against the likes of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Juventus.

With the national side, he plays a little deeper, as more of a No. 10, a playmaker as well as a goal scorer, the heart of the team's attack. 

That has given him a different perspective of the game, and Canadian soccer fans a different perspective of him.

With Lille, because he's so far in front of the play, he's constantly looking over his shoulder or sideways. His Canadian role makes him more forward-facing: There is usually someone higher than him, and so he has more decisions to make. 

Lately, he's almost always made the right one.

Entering Tuesday's home leg, David had scored or assisted on seven of the nine goals tallied since Marsch became head coach in May, and he forced the turnover that led to an eighth.

That included a crucial assist in last week's away-leg win against Suriname, when his perfect pass to Junior Hoilett proved the decisive moment in an otherwise tight, physical game.