MLS
MLS 2023 statistics leaders: top goalscorer, most assists, goal contributions, clean sheets…
Ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs, we take a look at which players performed best, in terms of numbers, during the regular season.
MLS Decision Day 2023 provided the drama we were all hoping for, with Sporting Kansas City and Charlotte FC the main beneficiaries as they sneaked into the MLS Cup Playoffs at the last moment. With the regular season now over, let’s take a quick look back at some of the league’s best performers, most of whom still have plenty left to play for when the post-season action gets underway (the Wild Card round begins on Wednesday 25 October, with Round One starting on Saturday 28 October).
MLS 2023 Golden Boot winner: Denis Bouanga (LAFC)
Denis Bouanga only scored once in seven MLS games after joining Los Angeles FC in 2022 but won the Golden Boot this year thanks to his 20 goals in 31 games. In all competitions, the Gabonese attacker found the net 33 times in 43 appearances.
In the end, the LAFC man topped the scoring charts fairly comfortably, scoring three goals more than FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta and Giorgios Giakoumakis of Atlanta United. Honourable mentions must also go to Columbus Crew forward Juan Camilo ‘Cucho’ Hernández (16 goals), Brian White of Vancouver Whitecaps (15) and Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar (15).
The importance of having a regular goal-getter can be demonstrated by the fact all the teams mentioned above will be taking part in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Most assists in MLS 2023: Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)
As for the creators, World Cup-winning midfielder Thiago Almada led the way for Atlanta, laying on no fewer than 19 goals for his teammates. The Five Stripes were the second highest scorers in the Eastern Conference, with 66 goals.
Mexican midfielder Héctor Herrera of Houston Dynamo was next on 17, with New England’s Carles Gil (15) and Edward Löwen of St. Louis City (14) also close behind.
MLS 2023 MVP: FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta?
A special mention must go to the aforementioned Acosta, who provided 13 assists in addition to scoring 17 goals. His 30 goal contributions were the most of any MLS player (Hernández had 26 and Mukhtar 26). As a result, he is one of the favourites to named this season’s MVP, especially considering FC Cincinnati topped the Eastern Conference and won the Supporters’ Shield.
Other interesting stats
Interestingly, none of the names already mentioned boasted the best goals-to-minutes-played ratio. In that particular category, Giakoumakis (0.85 goals per 90 minutes) came second to Minnesota United striker Teemu Pukki, who scored 10 times in 14 matches (0.87 per 90) after joining from Norwich City in the summer.
At the other end of the field, Austin FC’s Brad Stuver had the most work to do, making 132 saves, while Stefan Frei of Seattle Sounders kept the most clean sheets (14).