MLS Golden Boot — Winners, Top Scorers & Records
The MLS Golden Boot is awarded each season to the player who scores the most regular-season goals in Major League Soccer. Here is every recent winner, the all-time scoring records, and how the race works.
MLS Golden Boot — recent winners
| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | 29 |
| 2024 | Christian Benteke | D.C. United | 23 |
| 2023 | Denis Bouanga | LAFC | 20 |
| 2022 | Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC | 23 |
| 2021 | Valentín "Taty" Castellanos | New York City FC | 19 |
Major League Soccer (MLS): the Golden Boot race
The most recent MLS Golden Boot belongs to Lionel Messi, who scored 29 goals in just 28 appearances for Inter Miami in 2025 — one of the most efficient seasons the league has ever seen.
The single-season goal record still stands to Carlos Vela, who scored 34 goals for LAFC in 2019. Only three other players have reached 30 in a regular season: Josef Martínez (31 in 2018), Zlatan Ibrahimović (30 in 2021) and Messi himself.
The all-time MLS scoring charts are led by Chris Wondolowski with 171 regular-season goals. Wondolowski and Bradley Wright-Phillips share the record for most Golden Boot wins, with two apiece.
Records
Frequently asked questions
Who won the MLS Golden Boot in 2025?+
Lionel Messi won the 2025 MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals in 28 appearances for Inter Miami, one of the most efficient scoring seasons in league history.
What is the MLS Golden Boot?+
The MLS Golden Boot is the award given to the player who scores the most goals in the Major League Soccer regular season. If players tie on goals, assists are used as the tiebreaker.
What is the single-season goal record in MLS?+
Carlos Vela holds the MLS single-season record with 34 goals for LAFC in 2019. Josef Martínez (31), Zlatan Ibrahimović (30) and Lionel Messi (29) are the only others to come close.
Who is the all-time leading scorer in MLS?+
Chris Wondolowski is the all-time leading scorer in MLS regular-season play with 171 goals. He also shares the record for most Golden Boot wins with Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Where can I follow MLS top scorers live?+
TopScorers.com tracks goalscorer rankings across the major leagues and competitions, alongside standings, results and statistics, so you can follow every Golden Boot race in one place.