The 2024 MLS season is in full swing, and the race for the Golden Boot is heating up as players compete to be the league's top scorer by season’s end.
The Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals during the MLS season, with assists serving as the tiebreaker if two players finish level at the top of the chart.
Last year, LAFC’s Denis Bouanga claimed the Golden Boot with 20 goals and seven assists, becoming the third LAFC player to win the honor in five years, following in the footsteps of Diego Rossi in 2020 and Carlos Vela in 2019.
This season marks Lionel Messi’s first full campaign in MLS, and the Argentine superstar is lighting up the league. In a dominant 6-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls in early May, Messi set new MLS records for most goal contributions in a single game (6) and most assists in a game (5). His creativity has also elevated Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez, who is now one of the top contenders in the Golden Boot race, benefiting greatly from Messi's playmaking.
Despite Messi’s reputation as one of the greatest players of all time, the challenges of the rigorous MLS season mean the Golden Boot race remains wide open for any player to claim.
2024 MLS Top Goal Scorers
Updated as of September 29, 2024
Rank | Player | Club | Goals (PKs) | Assists | Games | Minutes |
| 1 | Christian Benteke | D.C. United | 21 (3) | 6 | 27 | 2331 |
| 2 | Denis Bouanga | LAFC | 18 (7) | 10 | 29 | 2486 |
| 3 | Cristian Arango | Real Salt Lake | 17 (2) | 12 | 27 | 2079 |
| 4 | Daniel Gazdag | Philadelphia | 17 (4) | 2 | 27 | 2305 |
| 5 | Luis Suarez | Inter Miami | 17 (0) | 6 | 24 | 1721 |
| 6 | Cucho Hernandez | Columbus | 16 (1) | 13 | 24 | 1876 |
| 7 | Jonathan Rodriguez | Portland | 16 (1) | 7 | 26 | 2165 |
Previous MLS Golden Boot Winners
Before 2005, MLS awarded its Scoring Champion based on a points system. Since then, the league has adopted the more traditional Golden Boot award for the top goal scorer.
Year | Player | Team | Goals |
| 2023 | Denis Bouanga | LAFC | 20 |
| 2022 | Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC | 23 |
| 2021 | Valentin Castellanos | NYCFC | 19 |
| 2020 | Diego Rossi | LAFC | 14 |
| 2019 | Carlos Vela | LAFC | 34 |
| 2018 | Josef Martinez | Atlanta United | 31 |
| 2017 | Nemanja Nikolic | Chicago Fire | 24 |
| 2016 | Bradley Wright-Phillips| | NY Red Bulls | 24 |
| 2015 | Sebastian Giovinco | Toronto FC | 22 |
| 2014 | Bradley Wright-Phillips | NY Red Bulls | 27 |
| 2013 | Camilo Sanvezzo | Vancouver | 22 |
| 2012 | Chris Wondolowski | SJ Earthquakes | 27 |
| 2011 | Dwayne De Rosario | D.C. United | 16 |
| 2010 | Chris Wondolowski | SJ Earthquakes | 18 |
| 2009 | Jeff Cunningham | FC Dallas | 17 |
| 2008 | Landon Donovan | LA Galaxy | 20 |
| 2007 | Luciano Emilio | D.C. United | 20 |
| 2006 | Jeff Cunningham | Real Salt Lake | 16 |
| 2005 | Taylor Twellman | NE Revolution | 17 |
NEXT MORE
How to Watch Serie A in the US: Live Streams, TV Channels, and Fixture Schedule
How to Watch Bundesliga in the US: Live Streams, TV Channels, and Fixture Schedule
UEFA Cuts Ticket Prices for Away Fans in European Club Competitions
Real Madrid's 2024-25 Champions League Group Stage Schedule
Complete fixtures and results for the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League group stage
How to Watch Champions League in the US: Live Streams, TV Channels, and Fixture Schedule
