Tracking every major MLS goalscoring record, from Freddy Adu to Chris Wondolowski.
Most MLS Goals All-Time
Goals | |
Chris Wondolowski | 169 |
Kei Kamara | 146 |
Landon Donovan | 145 |
Jeff Cunningham | 134 |
Jaime Moreno | 133 |
Chris Wondolowski has scored the most goals in MLS history. 'Wondo' played primarily with the San Jose Earthquakes, and was a reliable league player but did not stand out on the national stage.
Kei Kamara also did not stand out internationally, and ended up playing for 12 MLS clubs throughout his career.
Landon Donovan is the most famous player on this list, and in addition to being a great goal scorer in MLS, he is tied all-time with Clint Dempsey for the most goals in USMNT history with 57.
Most Goals in an MLS Season
Year | Goals | |
Carlos Vela | 2019 | 34 |
Josef Martinez (Atlanta) | 2018 | 31 |
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy) | 2019 | 30 |
Lionel Messi (Miami) | 2025 | 29 |
Josef Martinez (Atlanta) | 2019 | 27 |
Bradley Wright-Phillips (NY Red Bulls) | 2014 | 27 |
Carlos Vela owns the record for the most goals in a single MLS season, accomplishing the feat in 2019 with LAFC. Vela took over the record from Josef Martinez who set the record at 31 the season prior.
Footballing legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi both added their names to the MLS record books scoring 30, and 29 goals a piece while playing for the LA Galaxy and Inter Miami Respectively.
Youngest MLS Goal Scorers
Year | Age | |
Freddy Adu | 2004 | 14 Years, 10 Months, 15 Days |
Julian Hall | 2024 | 16 Years, 2 Months, 27 Days |
Gianluca Busio | 2018 | 16 Years, 4 Months, 20 Days |
Jesus Ferreira | 2017 | 16 Years, 5 Months, 11 Days |
Diego Fagundez | 2011 | 16 Years, 5 Months, 24 Days |
One of the records very unlikely to be broken is the youngest goal scorer in the league. This record was set by Freddy Adu who had not yet celebrated his fifteenth birthday.
Adu played for D.C. United, and was touted as the first generational star to come from MLS, and referred to as the next Pele.
Oldest MLS Goal Scorers
Year | Age | |
Preki | 2005 | 42 Years, 3 Months, 21 Days |
Carlos Valderrama | 2002 | 41 Years, 23 Days |
Kei Kamara | 2024 | 39 Years, 10 Months, 3 Days |
*Maxi Moralez | 2026 | 39 Years, 8 Days |
Claudio Suarez | 2007 | 38 Years, 9 Months, 12 Days |
* Active Player
Preki holds the record as the oldest goal scorer in MLS history, a record that he set three years after Carlos Valderrama set the record himself.
Maxi Moralez is the fourth oldest goal scorer in MLS history, and is the only active player on the list. Any more goals Moralez scores for NYCFC will extend the grip he has on fourth place.
