MLS top goal scorer 2024: Past Major League Soccer rankings as Lionel Messi aims for Golden Boot award
With more notable players moving to MLS, such as eight-time Ballon d or Award winner Messi, and ex-Barcelona forward Suarez, the Golden Boot award this season seems to be an interesting one
The prize is awarded to the player who has scored the most goals in the league throughout the year.
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 honour in the past five years, after Diego Rossi in 2020 and Carlos Vela in 2019.
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.
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 April 27, 2024
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals (PKs) | Assists | Games | Minutes |
| 1. | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | 9 (1) | 7 | 7 | 585 |
| 2. | Cristian Arango | Real Salt Lake | 8 (1) | 7 | 10 | 895 |
| | Christian Benteke | D.C. United | 8 (0) | 1 | 8 | 719 |
| 4. | Luis Suarez | Inter Miami | 7 (0) | 4 | 10 | 649 |
| | Lewis Morgan | NY Red Bulls | 7 (1) | 2 | 10 | 771 |
| 5. | Dejan Joveljic | LA Galaxy | 6 (0) | 2 | 9 | 688 |
| | Denis Bouanga | LAFC | 5 (3) | 2 | 9 | 810 |
| | Giorgos Giakoumakis | Atalanta United | 5 (1) | 1 | 6 | 398 |
Past MLS Golden Boot Winners
Before 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.
| 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 |
*2020 MLS season was shortened to 23 matches due to COVID-19 pandemic
