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

Kyle Bonn

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

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.

Rank Player Club Goals (PKs) Assists Matches Mins
1. Hany Mukhtar Nashville SC 15 (5) 9 29 2,386
  Luciano Acosta FC Cincinnati 15 (6) 12 28 2,312
  Giorgos Giakoumakis Atlanta United 15 (0) 3 24 1,552
4. Denis Bouanga LAFC 14 (2) 6 27 2,188
5. Alan Pulido Sporting KC 13 (3) 3 25 1,956
  Cucho Hernandez Houston Dynamo 13 (4) 11 23 2,013
  Daniel Gazdag Philadelphia 13 (11) 10 28 2,418
  Cristian Benteke DC United 13 (1) 4 29 2,609
  Brian White Vancouver 13 (0) 5 28 2,195
9. Christian Espinoza SJ Earthquakes 12 (4) 11 31 2,768
  Julian Carranza Philadelphia 12 (0) 5 27 2,176
  Facundo Torres Orlando City 12 (5) 4 27 2,156
  Jesus Ferreira FC Dallas 12 (1) 4 23 1,906
13. Nicholas Gioacchini St. Louis City 10 (1) 1 29 1,930
  Lucas Zelarayan Columbus Crew 10 (2) 7 20 1,707
  Jordan Morris Seattle Sounders 10 (0) 1 23 1,723
  Ryan Gauld Vancouver 10 (4) 10 28 2,284
  Sebastian Driussi Austin FC 10 (2) 3 25 2,062
  Thiago Almada Atlanta United 10 (1) 16 28 2,499

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.

  Hany
Mukhtar
Luciano
Acosta
Georgios
Giakoumakis
Denis
Bouanga
Christian
Benteke
Daniel
Gazdag
Cristian
Espinoza
Alan
Pulido
Carlos
Vela
BetMGM
(USA)
+350 +400 +400 +600 +1400 +1600 +2000 +2000 +3300

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

Date Match Goals Mins
Aug. 26 at NY Red Bulls
(W 0-2)
1 30
Aug. 30 vs. Nashville SC
(D 0-0)
0 90
Sep. 3 at LAFC
(W 3-1)
0 90
Sep. 9 vs. Sporting KC DNP
Sep. 16 at Atlanta United DNP
Sep. 20 vs. Toronto FC 0 37
Sep. 24 at Orlando City DNP
Sep. 30 vs. NYCFC    
Oct. 4 at Chicago Fire    
Oct. 7 vs. FC Cincinnati    
Oct. 21 at Charlotte FC    
TOTAL W-D-L: 2-1-0 1 247

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
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

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.