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Carlos Vela breaks goalscoring record with hat trick to capture 2019 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi

Carlos Vela - Golden Boot 1200 x 675 - 10.06.19

Carlos Vela breaks goalscoring record with hat trick to capture 2019 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi
Mexican international breaks MLS single-season goalscoring record with 34 goals;
Vela’s hat trick on MLS Decision Day presented by AT&T places him among top five global goalscorers including Messi and Mbappé
NEW YORK
(Sunday, October 6, 2019)
– Los Angeles Football Club forward Carlos Vela tonight won the 2019 Major League Soccer Golden Boot presented by Audi, establishing himself among the global game’s scoring elite, with an MLS record-breaking 34 goals this season. Vela scored a hat trick on MLS Decision Day presented by AT&T to decisively overtake the goalscoring record.
The 34 goals tallied by Vela is tied for third worldwide alongside the reigning Golden Boot winners from both La Liga (Lionel Messi - 36 goals for FC Barcelona) and Ligue 1 (Kylian Mbappé - 33 goals for Paris Saint-Germain).
With a goals-per-game average of 1.10, Vela finishes the season above Messi (1.05) and in near reach of Mbappé’s per-match production (1.13). Vela becomes the first player in MLS history to finish a season with a goals-per-game average higher than 1.0, joining Zlatan Ibrahimović who finished 2019 with a goals-per-game average of 1.03.

  • Select highlights of Vela’s record-breaking season can be found here.
  • Soundbyte reactions of Vela capturing the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi will be uploaded here following the match.


Vela broke numerous records this season, surpassing Atlanta United forward Josef Martínez’s mark of 31 goals in an MLS season set last year. Additionally, Vela’s 49 combined goals (34) and assists (15) shatters the MLS record of 38 set by Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco in 2015.
By scoring 34 goals this year, Vela has raised $34,000 for the LAFC Academy through the ‘Audi Goals Drive Progress’ program, a multi-year initiative launch by Audi and dedicated to expanding the breadth of academy resources through contributions toward player education, housing and transportation. The funds raised by Vela – $1,000 per goal scored during the 2019 MLS season – will be used by the LAFC Academy to ensure young players are supported as they endeavor to maintain excellence on the pitch and in the classroom.
“Since 2015, Audi has been proud to support MLS and its journey to showcase the best soccer talent in the world,” said Loren Angelo, vice president of Marketing, Audi of America. “We’re thrilled to congratulate Carlos Vela on his Golden Boot win, and look forward to both his continued success on the pitch, but also the success of the ‘Audi Goals Drive Progress’ program and its pursuit to grow the sport of soccer in America.”
Vela helped LAFC break the MLS record for points in a season, finishing the year with 72 points (21-4-9 overall record). Vela was also named captain for the MLS All-Stars for the second consecutive year, leading the league’s biggest names against Atlético de Madrid at the 2019 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target.
Major League Soccer Golden Boot/Scoring Champion winners

SeasonPlayerTeamGoals/Points (G/A)
2019
Carlos Vela
Los Angeles Football Club
34 goals
2018
Josef Martínez
Atlanta United
31 goals
2017
Nemanja Nikolić
Chicago Fire
24 goals
2016
Bradley Wright-Phillips
New York Red Bulls
24 goals
2015
Sebastian Giovinco
Toronto FC
22 goals
2014
Bradley Wright-Phillips
New York Red Bulls
27 goals
2013
Camilo Sanvezzo
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
22 goals
2012
Chris Wondolowski
San Jose Earthquakes
27 goals
2011
Dwayne De Rosario
D.C. United
16 goals
2010
Chris Wondolowski
San Jose Earthquakes
18 goals
2009
Jeff Cunningham
FC Dallas
17 goals
2008
Landon Donovan
Los Angeles Galaxy
20 goals
2007
Luciano Emílio
D.C. United
20 goals
2006
Jeff Cunningham
Real Salt Lake
16 goals
2005
Taylor Twellman
New England Revolution
17 goals
2004
Amado Guevara
MetroStars
30 (10g, 10a)
Pat Noonan
New England Revolution
30 (11g, 8 a)
(TOP 3: Amado Guevara, MetroStars (10g, 10a = 30 pts); Pat Noonan, New England Revolution (11g, 8a = 30 pts); Brian Ching, San Jose Earthquakes (12g, 4a = 28 pts) 
2003
Preki
Kansas City Wizards
41 (12g, 17a)
(TOP 3: Preki, Kansas City Wizards (12g, 17a = 41 pts); Carlos Ruiz, L.A. Galaxy (15g, 5a = 35 pts); Ante Razov, Chicago Fire (14g, 6a = 34 pts); Taylor Twellman, New England Revolution (15g, 4a = 34 pts) 
2002
Taylor Twellman
New England Revolution
52 (23g, 6a)
(TOP 3: Taylor Twellman, New England Revolution (23g, 6a = 52 pts); Carlos Ruiz, Los Angeles Galaxy (24g, 1a = 49 pts); Jeff Cunningham, Columbus Crew (16g, 5a = 37 pts) 
2001
Alex Pineda Chacón
Miami Fusion
47 (19g, 4a)
(TOP 3:  Alex Pineda Chacón, Miami Fusion (19g, 4a = 47 pts); Diego Serna, Miami Fusion, (15g, 15a = 45 pts); John Spencer, Colorado Rapids, (14g, 7a = 35 pts) 
2000
Mamadou Diallo
Tampa Bay Mutiny
56 (26g, 4a)
(TOP 3: Mamadou Diallo, Tampa Bay Mutiny (26g, 4a = 56 pts); Clint Mathis, Los Angeles/MetroStars, (16g, 14a = 46 pts); Ante Razov, Chicago Fire (18g, 6a = 42 pts); Diego Serna, Miami Fusion, (16g, 10a = 42 pts) 
1999
Jason Kreis
Dallas Burn
51 (18g, 15a)
(TOP 3: Jason Kreis, Dallas Burn (18g, 15a = 51 pts); Roy Lassiter, D.C. United, (18g, 11a = 47 pts); Ronald Cerritos, San Jose Clash (15g, 9a = 39 pts) 
1998
Stern John
Columbus Crew
57 (26g, 5a)
(TOP 3: Stern John, Columbus Crew (26g, 5a = 57 pts); Cobi Jones, Los Angeles Galaxy (19g, 13a = 51 pts); Welton, Los Angeles Galaxy (17g, 11a = 45 pts) 
1997
Preki
Kansas City Wizards
41 (12g, 17a)
(TOP 3: Preki, Kansas City Wizards (12g, 17a = 41 pts); Jaime Moreno, D.C. United, (16g, 8a = 40 pts); Raul Diaz Arce, D.C. United (15g, 6a = 36 pts) 
1996
Roy Lassiter
Tampa Bay Mutiny
58 (27g, 4a)
(TOP 3: Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay Mutiny (27g, 4a = 58 pts); Preki, Kansas City Wiz (18g, 13a = 49 pts); Eduardo Hurtado, Los Angeles Galaxy, (21g, 7a = 49 pts) 


* up to the 2004 season, the Scoring Champion was determined by total points, with a goal counting two points and assists counting as one. Beginning in 2005, the title was renamed the Golden Boot, and awarded to the leading goalscorer in the season. In case of a tie, the winner will be decided by the player with the most assists; if still tied, the winner will be the player with fewer minutes played.