NEW YORK – Los Angeles Football Club forward Diego Rossi Sunday won the Major League Soccer Golden Boot at 22, becoming the youngest player in MLS history to lead the league in goals.

Rossi led MLS with 14 goals in 19 matches, with a career-high goals-per-game average of .737.

The Uruguay international earned his fourth individual honor this season after a tremendous performance at the MLS is Back Tournament in which he won the Golden Boot with seven goals. Rossi also was named the MLS is Back young player of the tournament and to the competition’s Best XI.

Rossi bested Carlos Ruiz’s record as he led MLS with 24 goals in 2002 at 23. That same year, before the Golden Boot was officially awarded, Taylor Twellman, then 22, was named the MLS scoring champion with the most points from combined goals and assists.

Rossi helped LAFC to a league-best 47 goals in the regular season, with the team’s 2.14 goals-per-game average standing as the seventh most in league history.

 

Major League Soccer Golden Boot/Scoring Champion winners

Season Player Team Goals/Points (G/A)
2020 Diego Rossi Los Angeles Football Club 14 goals
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.