MLS top goal scorer 2024: Updated Major League Soccer rankings as Lionel Messi aims for Golden Boot award

Brad Cox

MLS top goal scorer 2024: Updated Major League Soccer rankings as Lionel Messi aims for Golden Boot award image

The 2024 MLS season is in full swing, and with that comes the opportunity for players to win the Golden Boot award come the end of the season.

The individual award is handed to the player who has scored the most goals in the league throughout the year, with assists as the tiebreaker should two players finish level at the top of the standings.

Last year saw LAFC forward Denis Bouanga win the Golden Boot after scoring 20 goals. He also contributed seven assists, making the Gabon international the third Black & Gold player to win the honor in the past five years, after Diego Rossi in 2020 and Carlos Vela in 2019.

This season is Lionel Messi's first full season in MLS, and he is electrifying the league with his brilliance, with records falling at every turn. In the 6-1 thrashing of the New York Red Bulls in early May, Messi set new MLS marks for most goal contributions in a game with six, and most assists in a game with five.

Right alongside him at the top of the standings is his Inter Miami teammate and close friend Luis Suarez, who has been the biggest beneficiary of Messi's creative magic.

While Messi is often regarded as the greatest player in the history of the game, the demanding United States domestic season promises numerous challenges, leaving the outcome wide open for any contender to seize.

MORE: Who will win the MLS Golden Boot? Preseason odds, predictions and more

MLS top goal scorer 2024: Updated rankings

The Sporting News will be updating the table below during every matchday of the 2024 MLS season through to the final matches.

Updated on October 2, 2024

RankPlayerClubGoals (PKs)AssistsGamesMinutes
1.Christian BentekeD.C. United23 (3)7292510
2.Denis BouangaLAFC19 (7)11312667
=Cucho HernandezColumbus19 (2)13262057
4.Luis SuarezInter Miami18 (0)7261831
5.Lionel MessiInter Miami17 (1)15181453
=Cristian ArangoReal Salt Lake17 (2)12292171
=Daniel GazdagPhiladelphia17 (4)3292487

Past MLS Golden Boot Winners

Prior to 2005, Major League Soccer used a point system to award its Scoring Champion, but since 2005 they have awarded a more traditional Golden Boot for the league's top scorer.

YearPlayerTeamGoals
2023Denis BouangaLAFC20
2022Hany MukhtarNashville SC23
2021Valentin CastellanosNYCFC19
2020*Diego RossiLAFC14
2019Carlos VelaLAFC34
2018Josef MartinezAtlanta United31
2017Nemanja NikolicChicago Fire24
2016Bradley Wright-PhillipsNY Red Bulls24
2015Sebastian GiovincoToronto FC22
2014Bradley Wright-PhillipsNY Red Bulls27
2013Camilo SanvezzoVancouver22
2012Chris WondolowskiSJ Earthquakes27
2011Dwayne De RosarioD.C. United16
2010Chris WondolowskiSJ Earthquakes18
2009Jeff CunninghamFC Dallas17
2008Landon DonovanLA Galaxy20
2007Luciano EmilioD.C. United20
2006Jeff CunninghamReal Salt Lake16
2005Taylor TwellmanNE Revolution17

*2020 MLS season was shortened to 23 matches due to COVID-19 pandemic

Brad Cox

Brad Cox Photo

Brad is a content producer for The Sporting News and has previously worked for the likes of Squawka and The Athletic. His career highlight to date is reporting from the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final in Paris.