MLS Top Goal Scorer: Golden Boot 2024 - Odds, Prediction, Best Picks

The new season of the Major League Soccer (MLS) is well underway, and the race for playoff qualification is expected to be intense. While the clubs fight for a ticket to the knockouts, a few players will gear up to become top contenders for the Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the season.

After scoring 20 goals in 31 appearances during the regular season, Denis Bouanga clinched the MLS 2023 Golden Boot. The Los Angeles FC added five more to his tally during the playoffs, but the knockout stage goals do not count in the Golden Boot race. The winner of the individual award is decided before the playoff season begins.

FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta and Atlanta United’s Giorgos Giakoumakis were tied for second place, with both players scoring 17 goals. The former was eventually named the MVP of the MLS 2023 campaign after he ended the campaign with 31 goals. The Argentine scored 19 goals and provided 12 assists in 36 games.

Juan Hernandez was influential in Columbus Crew’s title-winning run last year. At the end of the regular season, the Colombian had a goal tally of 16. He scored five more goals during the playoffs, including the opener against Los Angeles FC in the final. This season, Hernandez is off to a great start again, as he has scored two goals in two games.

MLS Top Goal Scorer 2024 - Odds

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Lionel Messi will be the top competitor for the Golden Boot in any league that he plays in. Hence, the bookmakers have backed him as the firm favorite to win the award prior to the Copa America but things have changed in the market and due to his injury. His former Barcelona and current Inter Miami teammate, Luis Suarez, his odds have fallen currently ranked fifth, while Real Salt Lake’s Cristian Arango is now in pole position to capture the 2024 Golden Boot after two thirds of the MLS season completed.

MLS 2024 Golden Boot Winner - Analysis

All the accolades have been said there is not much more to add to one of the greatest players of all time to grace a soccer pitch. Lionel Messi is a goal-scoring machine every time he ties his boots up and takes the field. In 13 MLS appearances this campaign, the Argentine has recorded 14 goals and only one of them coming by the way of a penalty. The 36-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down yet, making him one of the favorites to win the 2024 MLS Golden Boot. Messi returned from injury without missing a beat as he found the back twice in his first taste of MLS action since June 1st.

The 33-year-old is still maintaining a solid goal-scoring form bagging 19 goals as he currently leads the 2024 MLS Golden Boot race. Sitting in pole position atop the leaderboard in the goals category, Christian Benteke has moved up the charts and now for the first time this campaign is the odds on favorite to capture the Golden Boot. 

Bouanga was ranked surprisingly low in the outrights table to begin the campaign but has steadily moved up during the season. Currently, the LAFC product is the second favorite to capture the goal-scoring title as he has bagged 17 goals in 2024. Though the Gabonian is the reigning title holder and no player in history has ever won the MLS Golden Boot in two consecutive seasons putting Bouanga at a disadvantage to repeat.

Messi’s teammate is enjoying MLS life as Luis Suarez's introduction is off to a blistering start. In 21 league appearances, the Uruguayan has found the back of the net 17 times. The 37-year-old is exceeding expectations, and his age was a concern coming into the season but the lethal Inter Miami number nine is proving the doubters wrong. Through 21 MLS showings, Suarez is making the most of his opportunities sitting with an x.G of 10.1 , he’s carrying the load and will go to no surprise if he sails over his expected goals from the analytic side of things.

Cristian Arango is currently priced as fourth most likely player to capture the allusive goal-scoring trophy. The 29-year-old Columbian is the MVP of Real Salt Lake, bagging goals and helping his side collect results. Arango is currently two goals behind the leader in the MLS Golden Boot race with 17 goals on the year. The striker has slowed down off his scorching pace only registering one goal since his hat-trick against the Austin FC  on June 1.

Budging his way into the Golden Boot chat is the 26-year-old Croatian striker Petar Musa. In his first season in MLS, the FC Dallas product has fitted in nicely to his new surroundings, cashing in on 14 goals so far. Musa is blazing on the score sheet inking his name on the statsheet in three consecutive MLS matches. Don't look now but if the striker can continue his form he will be tooth and nail with his peers in the Golden Boot race. 

A dark horse on the list is the Hungarian Daniel Gazdag. The 28-year-old has penciled in his name on the score sheet 14 times through 21 matches. Gazdag is underrated and doesn’t get the media attention he deserves, in 159 competitive matches played for the Philadelphia Union, he has scored 67 times. Often forgotten in his second term in MLS, Gazdag scored 24 times in 2022.

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MLS 2024 Golden Boot Winner - My Pick

Cristian Arango (+500) at bet365

It’s hard to go against one of the greatest players this soccer generation has ever seen but Inter Miami will give Messi the load management treatment as the season progresses and his departure to the Copa America 2024. Taking away his appearances should equate to fewer goals so for this reason going to select the current top scorer in MLS Cristian Arango +500.

He is showing no signs of slowing down and currently leads the race by a three-goal margin. The spotlight won’t be focused on the Columbian and if the 29-year-old forward can avoid the injury sword he should be able to start close to every game with Real Salt Lake.

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