MLS top goal scorers 2023: Golden Boot race in Major League Soccer as Hany Mukhtar holds off Lionel Messi, others

Forwards know that with goals come wins, and so the league's top scorers will make an extra effort to find the back of the net.

Inter Miami, who return to league play sitting last in the Eastern Conference standings, will hope that Lionel Messi's explosion from the Leagues Cup will translate to MLS action. The Argentine scored 10 goals in seven matches to begin life in the United States, and everyone is expecting him to keep that pace up.

Messi would provide hope for a challenge to those topping the list, with a goal off the bench in his MLS debut against the New York Red Bulls, the first MLS goal of his career. He hasn't scored since as he struggles with injury, but he did bag two assists against defending champions LAFC in a big 3-1 win.

It's been a down year for goal scorers in Major League Soccer, with Hany Mukhtar leading the league on just 15 goals through 28 matches. Muhktar has been leading most of the way, but he's been caught at the top by Luciano Acosta, who continues to dazzle for Supporters' Shield leaders FC Cincinnati, and Atlanta United frontman Giorgos Giakoumakis.

Aside from the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the league has seen its Golden Boot winner score at least 19 goals in each of the past 12 years.

While he's not topping the goal scoring charts, Atlanta United youngster Thiago Almada is near the top of the league in goal contributions, having bagged 10 goals and added another 16 assists. Those 26 combined goals and assists are second in MLS, one back of the aforementioned Acosta.

Another oddity also stands out, this being from the penalty spot. Philadelphia Union forward Daniel Gazdag has scored 13 goals this year, but only two are from open play, while the other 11 have come from the spot. That sets a new record for most penalties by one player in an MLS season, breaking the previous mark of nine.

MORE: Odds for Lionel Messi to score a goal in Inter Miami's next match

MLS Top Scorers list for 2023 season

The Sporting News will be updating the table below during every matchday of the 2023 MLS season through to the final regular season matches on October 21, 2023.

Updated as of Thursday, September 28, 2023.

There have also been 39 own goals scored during the 2023 MLS season:

• Atlanta United (1): Juan Purata
• Austin FC (1): Emiliano Rigoni
• FC Cincinnati (2): Dominique Badji, Roman Celentano
• Charlotte FC (2): Kristijan Kahlina, Bill Tuiloma
• Chicago Fire (2): Maren Haile-Selassie, Carlos Teran
• Columbus Crew (1): Milos Degenek
• DC United (1): Brendan Hines-Ike
• FC Dallas (3): Paul Arriola, Sam Junqua, Nolan Norris
• Houston Dynamo (1): Erik Sviatchenko
• Inter Miami (3): Christopher McVey, Kamal Miller, David Ruiz
• LA Galaxy (1): Calegari
• CF Montreal (2): Gabriele Corbo, Joel Waterman
• Nashville SC (1): Jack Maher
• New England Revolution (1): Andrew Farrell
• New York Red Bulls (2): Andres Reyes (x2)
• NYCFC (1): Richard Ledezma
• Orlando City SC (1): Robin Jansson
• Philadelphia Union (3): Jakob Glesnes, Nathan Harriel, Oliver Mbazio
• Portland Timbers (3): Diego Chara, Larrys Mabiala, Zack McGraw
• Real Salt Lake (1): Justen Glad
• Seattle Sounders (2): Stefan Frei, Yeimar Gomez
• St. Louis City SC (1): Jake Nerwinski
• Toronto FC (2): Aime Mabika, Lucas MacNaughton
• Vancouver Whitecaps (1): Tristan Blackmon

Odds to win MLS Golden Boot 2023

Some sports books had once installed Lionel Messi as the favorite to win the league's Golden Boot award, but sitting on just one league goal still, the odds have been reconfigured to a more realistic reflection of his situation.

Inter Miami have just six games left in the regular season, and Messi is likely to miss a few of those for international duty and rest, meaning he's almost surely out of the running.

Current leader and reigning Golden Boot winner Hany Mukhtar sports the lowest odds, while the likes of Denis Bouanga, Luciano Acosta, and Georgios Giakoumakis are right behind.

Odds as of Monday, September 25, 2023.

How many goals does Lionel Messi have in MLS?

Starting from zero with just 11 games remaining, Lionel Messi has a lot of catching up to do, but if Inter Miami are to make a historic run from the bottom of the Eastern Conference into a playoff position, they will need Messi to pour on the goals like he did in the Leagues Cup.

While Messi led Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup title with 10 goals in seven games, he has not lifted off with the same exuberance in Major League Soccer action. He scored off the bench in his MLS debut against the New York Red Bulls, but has been blanked since, while also dealing with fitness concerns. Yet he's still contributing at a high level when on the field, producing two assists in the 3-1 victory over LAFC.

Messi MLS goals in 2023

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.

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