Former Premier League star leads the race for MLS Golden Boot

DC United’s playoff ambitions were dealt a major blow on Sunday, suffering a 4-0 defeat to Eastern Conference rivals Philadelphia Union. DC now find themselves down in 13th in the East, eight points adrift of the guaranteed post-season places and needing improvement down the stretch if they are to make it to the playoffs.

However their inconsistent form makes the performances of Christian Benteke even more impressive. The former Aston Villa and Liverpool striker has scored 19 goals and provided six assists in 26 MLS appearances this year, putting him on course for Golden Boot.

The Belgian striker initially struggled in MLS, managing just one goal in seven appearances after joining midway through the 2022 season. Now, however, he has become a truly dominant force at the focal point of the DC attack. If he can clinch the Golden Boot in the final four regular season games he will cement his reputation as one of the league’s top attacking talents.

What is 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.