The 2025 MLS season begins on February 22, starting with LAFC against Minnesota United at BMO Stadium.
Los Angeles Galaxy are the defending champions after winning the 2024 MLS Cup final against the New York Red Bulls.
Inter Miami, who won the Supporters’ Shield after finishing top of the regular-season standings, are likely to be the main challengers to the top prize.
Lionel Messi was of course the star attraction last year and produced some dazzling performances, but he was not able to lead the Florida franchise to postseason glory.
Surprisingly, he also missed out on the top-scorer prize, with D.C. United’s Christian Benteke the man who scored the most goals in 2024.
Messi, Benteke and Luis Suarez will be among the top contenders for this year’s Golden Boot, but there are some new big names in the league in 2025 who may also find themselves in the running.
The Sporting News will track the race to win the prize throughout 2025.
MORE: Lionel Messi's full MLS schedule for 2025 | Golden Boot standings for 2024
MLS top goal scorer 2025: Updated rankings
The Sporting News updated the table below during every matchday of the 2025 MLS regular season.
Updated during the opening round of games on Saturday, February 22.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals (PKs) | Assists | Games | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tai Baribo | Philadelphia Union | 2 (0) | 0 | 1 | 71 |
| = | Brian Gutierrez | Chicago Fire | 2 (0) | 0 | 1 | 90 |
| = | Emmanuel Latte Lath | Atlanta United | 2 (0) | 0 | 1 | 90 |
| = | Diego Rossi | Columbus Crew | 2 (0) | 0 | 1 | 90 |
| = | Jordan Morris | Seattle Sounders | 2 (0) | 0 | 1 | 90 |
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.
| Year | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Christian Benteke | D.C. United | 23 |
| 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
Prior to 2005, MLS awarded it’s Golden Boot by giving two points for a goal and one for an assist.
All-time MLS top goal scorers
13 players in MLS history have scored 100 or more league goals, led by the league’s all-time greatest scorer Chris Wondolowski, who played nearly his entire MLS career with the San Jose Earthquakes, retiring in 2021.
Kei Kamara is technically still an active player, needing 24 more goals to catch the leader, but was released by LAFC in the 2024/25 offseason and therefore currently is not contracted with an MLS club.
Legendary superstar Landon Donovan is third on the chart, and his illustrious career was valuable enough to have the league’s MVP award named after him.
| Rank | Player | Goals | Games |
| 1. | Chris Wondolowski | 171 | 413 |
| 2. | Kei Kamara | 147 | 445 |
| 3. | Landon Donovan | 145 | 340 |
| 4. | Jeff Cunningham | 134 | 365 |
| 5. | Jaime Moreno | 133 | 340 |
| 6. | Bradley Wright-Phillips | 117 | 234 |
| 7. | Josef Martinez* | 116 | 184 |
| 8. | Ante Razov | 114 | 262 |
| 9. | Jason Kreis | 108 | 305 |
| 10. | Gyasi Zardes | 106 | 328 |
* Active MLS player
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