Can Lionel Messi win the Golden Boot? MLS top scorers

Lionel Messi lifted the Supporters’ Shield with Inter Miami on Wednesday evening after a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew. The 37-year-old scored two goals, one of which was a stunning free kick, to grab the three points and add another trophy to Miami’s rapidly-expanding collection.

With that brace, Lionel Messi takes his MLS tally to 17 goals for the season. Incredibly, he has only made 17 league appearances for the Herons and is currently running at 1.07 goals per 90 minutes. He’s also provided 15 assists, those coming at a rate of 0.95 per 90 mins.

Across the 2024 MLS campaign, Messi has either scored or assisted more than two goals per 90 minutes played.

Injury and international commitments have limited the Argentine’s playing time in 2024 and appears to have cost him a shot at the MLS Golden Boot. Currently leading the way is former Premier League striker Christian Benteke, whose 22 MLS goals have dragged a sub-par DC United side into postseason contention.

Benteke was on the scoresheet again on Wednesday evening, helping his team to a dramatic comeback victory against Nashville. DC were trailing 3-2 in the third minute of added time but a late brace from Gabriel Pirani turned the tables and keeps Troy Lesesne’s team in the hunt for the playoffs.

Who holds the MLS goalscoring record?

Christian Benteke has exceled with his 2024 goalscoring but he’s still a long way short of the single-season scoring record. That honour belongs to Carlos Vela, who set the record during his historic 2019 campaign with LAFC.

Vela scored an astonishing 34 goals in 31 appearances as LAFC lifted the Supporters Shield. The Mexican was named MLS Most Valuable Player and added a further two goals in three post-season matches, before LAFC were eliminated by eventual champions Seattle Sounders.

He may not break the MLS record but Benteke is still in with a chance of making History for DC United. As it stands, the single-season scoring record is held by Raúl Díaz Arce, who struck 23 goals during the inaugural MLS season in 1996. The El Salvadorian striker went on to score the first playoff hat-trick in MLS History as he fired DC to an MLS Cup triumph.