Lionel Messi scored the most goals in MLS during the 2025 season, won the league MVP award, and helped Inter Miami win their first MLS Cup.
Messi's 29 goals in 2025 were the fourth most goals in MLS of all-time.
With 12 goals in 14 matches, Messi is yet again the favorite to be the league's top goalscorer in back-to-back seasons, but it's Chicago Fire's Hugo Cuypers who leads the league in goals (13) at this point in the 2026 season.
Nashville SC's Sam Surridge was tied with LAFC's Denis Bouanga for the second most goals in the 2025 season, with each man scoring 24 goals, and is another favorite to top the charts this season.
2026 MLS Top Goalscorer Odds
Player (Team) | Goal Tally | Top Goalscorer Odds |
|---|---|---|
Lionel Messi (Miami) | 12 | +110 |
Hugo Cuypers (Chicago) | 13 | +500 |
Petar Musa (Dallas) | 12 | +100 |
Sam Surridge (Nashville) | 9 | +1200 |
Brian White (Vancouver) | 10 | +1400 |
Evander (FC Cincinnati) | 9 | +1400 |
Martin Ojeda (Orlando City) | 11 | +1400 |
Marcus Ingvartsen (San Diego) | 11 | +1600 |
Nicolas Fernandez (NYCFC) | 10 | +1600 |
Prince Osei Owusu (Montreal) | 9 | +1600 |
Tai Baribo (DC United) | 8 | +2500 |
Denis Bouanga (LAFC) | 6 | +2500 |
Preston Judd (San Jose) | 11 | +2500 |
Ahoueke Denkey (Cincinnati) | 9 | +2800 |
Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC) | 6 | +3300 |
Pep Biel (Charlotte) | 7 | +4000 |
Josh Sargent (Toronto FC) | 3 | +4000 |
Louis Munteanu (DC United) | 5 | +4000 |
Odds updated: 5/27/2026
Many players are off to a hot start this season in the goal scoring department heading into the World Cup break. Eight players have scored double digit goals already, The list includes some established center forwards, like Petar Musa, Brian White, Anders Dreyer, Lionel Messi, and Nicolas Fernandez.
A surprise player is 18-year-old Julian Hall. Hall made his MLS debut in 2023 at just 15-years-old, but did not become an consistent player for the New York Red Bulls until last season when he played 26 games, including four starts.
In 2026, with USMNT legend Michael Bradley as his new head coach, Hall has started 15 of 15 games, and scored nine goals. The youngster is off to a hot start and may catch the attention of European squads eyeing a future star during the summer transfer window.
Columbus Crew's Wessam Abou Ali was an early contender to be the top goalscorer in the league, but after suffering an ACL injury, the Crew have officially ruled him out for the rest of the season. Abou Ali notched five goals before suffering the season ending injury.
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