Many players on this list have also had European careers but later came to the MLS and made a big impact on the leaue. Scoring goals comes easy to some of these players as they have racked up an impressive goal count.

It’s interesting to think abouthow different this very same list will look a couple of years from now since many of the top goalscorers are still active now. This list is accurate as of before the 2021 MLS season. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the highest goal scorers in MLS history!

25. Kenny Cooper Jr

Kenny Cooper Jr is a former2008 MLS Best XI who started his career with European giants Manchester United. He has scored 75goals in 211 appearances while in the MLS and retired in 2015 playing for Montreal Impact.

Cooper’s dad, KennyCooper Sr, played professional soccer as well. He was a goalkeeper in the Premier League before also moving to the United Stateswere he played for Dallas Tornadoin the North American Soccer League.

24. Steve Ralston

Steve Ralstonis an American former midfielder who played most of his career playing for the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the New England Revolution. When he retired in 2010, he was the league’s all-time leader in assists with 135.

Ralston also held the United States record for most professional appearances in 2010 with 412. He has 76 goals in 378 appearances in the MLS. Ralston was also the assistant coach for the Houston Dynamo and the San Jose Earthquakes.

23. David Villa

David Villa is a soccer legend. The retired Spanish striker is regarded as one of the best forwards of his generation. He scored 77 goals in 117 games while in the MLS which also gives him one of the best games-to-goals ratio in league history.

Villa is a very decorated player who has won many prestigeous awards. He won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 along with the Champions League with Barcelona. He was the MLS MVP in 2016 and is a two-time MLS Best XI.

22. Josef Martinez

Josef Martinez is a Venezuelan striker who plays for Atlanta United. He holds the MLS record for career hat-tricks with six and the record for most consecutive games with a goalwith 15. He has been tearing up the league ever since his arrival in 2017.

Martinez became the most decorated player in a single MLS season in 2018 when he won the League MVP, All-Star Game MVP, Golden Boot, and MLS Cup Final MVP. He has 77 goals in 84 games and is still active so we could easily see him way higher on this list in the future.

21. Preki

Predrag Radosavljevic, better known as Preki, is a former Serbian midfielder who is an “MLS Original” since he played for the Kansas City Wizards when the league began in 1996. He is the only player to win two MLS MVP awards.

Preki has 79 goals in 242 games in the MLS. In 2020 he was inducted into the American National Soccer Hall of Fame. He won the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield with the Kansas City Wizards in 2000 and is an MLS legend.

20. Josh Wolff

Josh Wolff is a former American player who is the current Austin FC head coach. Wolff won two CONCACAF Gold Cups with the United States and has won awards with both the Chicago Fire and the Kansas City Wizards.

Wolff has 80 goals in 267 appearances in the MLS. He won an MLS Cup and Western Conference Championship with the Chicago fire and the Western Conference Championship with the Kansas City Wizards too. He also won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with both teams.

19. Brian McBride

Brian McBride is a former American player who played for the Columbus Crew and Chicago fire. He is the fifth all-time leading goalscorer for the United States national team and was the team captain for England side Fulham for four years.

McBride has 80 goals in 220 appearances. He has the same number of goals as Josh Wolff but we have ranked him higher since he got to that goal tally with less matches played. McBride won the U.S. Open Cup in 2002 with the Columbus Crew and was inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014.

18. Brian Ching

Brian Ching is a former American player who played in the MLS for twelve years and represented the United States national team for eight. He was the first player of Hawaiian descent to be selected in the MLS draft. He scored 82 goals in 233 games while in the MLS.

Ching has won three MLS Cups, one with the San Jose Earthquakes and two with the Houston Dynamo. He has also won two MLS Western Conference Championships and an MLS Supporters’ Shield. The 2004 MLS Golden Bootwinner put up some numbers while in the MLS.

17. Dom Dwyer

Dom Dwyer is an active American player who plays as a forward for Orlando City SC. He was born in Sussex, England, but became an American citizen in 2017 and later that year he got called up to the United States national team to play in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup were he won the tournament.

Dwyer has 82 goals in 193 appearances. Besides winning the Gold Cup in 2017, he won the MLS Cup, Eastern Conference playoffs, and two U.S. Open Cups with Sporting Kansas City. His transfer from Sporting Kansas City to Orlando City in 2017 is the largest transfer between two MLS clubs.

16. Raul Diaz Arce

Rauld Diaz Arce is a former Salvadoran player who played as a forward. He is El Salvador’s top goal scorer with 39 goals in 68 appearances. He also played for 12 different teams and 5different MLS clubs.

Arce has 82 goals in 150 appearances while in the MLS. He won two MLS Cups, the Supporters’ Shield, and the U.S. Open Cup with D.C. United. In 2009, Diaz-Arcewas inducted into the D.C. United Hall of Tradition.

15. Diego Valeri

Diego Valeri is an active Argentine midfielder who is the Portland Timbers captain. He is considered as one of the best MLS players of all time and is a four-time MLS All-Star and three-time MLS Best XI.He also led his team to win the MLS Cup in 2015.

Valeri has 83 goals in 230 matches while in the MLS. He won the 2017 Landon Donovan MVP Award and the 2013 Newcomer of the Year award while playing with the Portland Timbers. He also won the MLS is Back tournament in 2020.

14. Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane is a former Irish forward who is the top goalscorer for the Republic of Ireland national team.He started his career in Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers were he scored two goals in his debut at only 17 years old.

Keane has 83 goals in 125 matches playing for LA Galaxy. He won three MLS Cups and the Supporters’ Shield while also being a four-time MLS Best XI. He was the 2014 MLS MVP and is a four-time LA Galaxy Most Valuable Player.

13. Roy Lassiter

Roy Lassiter is a former American striker who played in the MLS when the league formed in 1996. He was one of the most lethal strikers in the league at the time and won the very first MLS Golden Boot in 1996 with the Tampa Bay Mutiny.

Lassiter has 88 goals in 179 matches while in the MLS and he won the CONCACAF Champions League in 1998 with D.C. United. He also won the MLS Cup in 1999 with D.C. United. One of the original top quality goalscorers that the league has had.

12. Carlos Ruiz

Carlos Ruiz is a former Guatemalan player who played for five different MLS clubs (D.C. United, Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC, FC Dallas, LA Galaxy).He has 89 goals in 183 matches and has the MLS record for most goals in the post-season with 16.

Ruiz won the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield with the Galaxy in 2002. That same year he won the MLS Cup MVP and was the Major League Soccer MVP. He is also the all-time top goalscorer in FIFA World Cup qualification games.

11. Edson Buddle

Edson Buddle is a former American player and one of only 11 players in MLS history to have scored100 goals in the league. He scored 100 goals in 304 matches playing for five different MLS clubs (Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC, LA Galaxy, and Colorado Rapids).

Buddle won the Supporters’ Shield with Colombus Crew and LA Galaxy. In 2002 he won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and in 2012 he won the MLS Cup with the LA Galaxy. He was part of the MLS Best XI in 2010.

10. Taylor Twellman

Taylor Twellman is a former American player who is mostly remembered for his time playing with the New England Revolution.From 2002 to 2009 no player scored more goals than Twellman in the MLS and he was also the youngest player to score 100 goals in the MLS.

Twellman has 101 goals in 174 appearances for New England Revolution. He is the teams leading goalscorer and in 2005 he was the MLS MVP. He is a five-time MLS All-Star and also won the CONCACAF Gold Cup with the United States in 2007.

9. Dwayne De Rosario

Dwayne De Rosario is a former Canadian player who played as a forward or attacking midfielder. He played for five different MLS clubs (San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo, Toronto FC, New York Red Bulls, and D.C. United).

De Rosario scored 104 goals in 342 appearances throughout his MLS career. He is a four-time MLS Cup winner and also won the MLS MVP award in 2011. De Rosario is also Canada’s leading top scorer with 22 goals in 81 games and a four-time Canadian Player of the Year.

8. Jason Kreis

Jason Kreis is a former American player who is now the assistant coach for Inter Miami. He was the 1999 MLS MVP and at one point during his career he was the all-time leading goal scorer in the MLS.He played most of his career for the Dallas Burn, now known as FC Dallas.

Kreis has 108 goals in 305 MLS appearances. He played 14 games for the United States were he scored one goal. He has coached 3 different MLS teams (RealSalt Lake, New York City FC, and Orlando City).

7. Ante Razov

Ante Razov is a former American forward who is the current Los Angeles FC assistant coach. He is the all-time leading goal scorerfor two different current or former MLS clubs (Chicago Fire and Chivas USA). He was the third player in MLS history to score 100 goals.

Razov has114 MLS goals in 262 appearances. He won the MLS Cup in 1998 and the Supporters’ Shield in 2003. He also won three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups and the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002. Razov scored six goals in 25 caps playing for the United States.

6. Bradley Wright-Phillips

Bradley Wright-Phillips is an active English player who plays as a striker for Columbus Crew SC. He started his career playing for Manchester City before eventually making his way to the MLS in 2013. In his first full season with the league he equalled the record for most goals in a single campaign with 27.

Wright-Phillips has 116goals in 214MLS games. He has won three Supporters’ Shields and is a two-time MLS Golden Boot winner. He is also a two-time MLS Best XI.Wright-Phillips is still active and has the potential to be in the top 5 spots of this list by the time he retires.

5. Kei Kamara

Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonan striker who currently plays forMinnesota United. The 6’3 powerhouse forward has played most of his career in the MLSand he could be a serious contender for a top 3spot on this list by the time he retires.

Kamarahas 129 goals in 356 MLS appearances. He is a two-time Eastern Conferencewinner and in 2007 he won the MLS Fair Play Award.In 2015 he was the MLS Cup top-scorer and was also an MLS All-Star.

4. Jaime Moreno

Jaime Morenois a formerBolivianplayerwho playedfor D.C. United for the majority of hiscareer. He was the MLS all-time leading goalscorer when he retired in 2010. In 2009 he was the first MLS player to reach 100 goals and 100 assists.

Moreno scored 133 goals in 340 MLS appearances.He represented Bolivia in five Copa America tournaments and the 1994 FIFA World Cup.He also won four MLS Cups and four Supporters’ Shields. Moreno is also a five-time MLS Best XI.

3. Jeff Cunningham

Jeff Cunninghamis a formerAmerican player who played as a forward. He is a two-time MLS Golden Boot winner and a three-time MLS Best XI. In 2010 Cunninghamwon the MLS Western Conference Championship with FC Dallas.

Cunninghamhas 134 goals in 365 MLS appearances. He won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2002 and the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2004 with the Columbus Crew. He played only 14 games for the United States national team and scored one goal for his country.

2. Landon Donovan

Landon Donovan is a former Americanplayer who holds multiple MLS and United States national team records.He is regarded as one of the bestUnited States men’s soccer players of all time and has the numbers to back up that claim.

Donovanhas 146 goals in 340 MLS games. He has the record for most MLS Cups with six and he is also the leagues all-time leader in assists. He also has four CONCACAF Gold Cups and two Supporters’ Shields with LA Galaxy. He was awarded the MLS Greatest Player of All Time award.

1. Chris Wondolowski

Chris Wondolowski is an active player for the San Jose Earthquakes and the all-time MLS top goalscorer.He is the only player in the league’s history to have scored ten or more goals in ten consecutive seasons and has the record for most MLS game winning goals.

“Wondo” has 164goals in 378 MLS appearances.He won two MLS Cups with Houston Dynamo and two Supporters’ Shields with the San Jose Earthquakes. Wondo is a two-time MLS Golden Boot and a three-time MLS Best XI. He takes our number one spot and he is only going to keep racking up more goals!

It has been a strange 25th anniversary for the league, MLS had planned a year-long celebration to remember it’s relatively short history. Then the covid-19 pandemic hit and put many if not all celebrations on hold.

Nonetheless, some celebrations did take place and the year will culminate in an MLS Cup Champion. Here are the 25 top-selling jerseys of the 2020 Major League Soccer season.

25. Ezequiel Barco

It might be strange to see Ezequiel Barco on this list, given that he has played relatively very little in his three MLS seasons. The Argentine midfielder has show flashes of brilliance but never truly became a star in the league or in Atlanta United.

24. Cristian Roldan

The Seattle Sounders fan favorite has been a key part of their midfield since 2015. CristianRoldan has played over 150 games for Rave Green and has also played for the USMNT. Fans may be shocked to find out that Roldan is only 25, seems like he has been around forever.

23. Lucas Zelarayan

One of the best newcomers to MLS this season, Lucas Zelarayan, came from Liga MX side Tigres and has been one of the best players in the league. The Argentine scored 6 goals in 16 games, but most importantly he revitalized the Columbus Crew’s midfield.

22. Walker Zimmerman

Say what? Yeah, Walker Zimmerman, is number 22 on the list, the Nashville SC defender has been solid for the expansion franchise, even helping them get to the playoffs. Zimmerman is one of the best defenders in MLS and he is a pool player on the USMNT.

21. Cristian Pavon

The lone bright spot in a dreadful 2020 for the L.A. Galaxy, Cristian Pavoncame via loan last season from Boca Juniors and has been a highlight reel week in and week out. The Galaxy on the other hand area trainwreck, get his jersey now, the chances he returns for 2021 are slim.

20. Jonathan dos Santos

Mexican national team players are very popular in MLS, Jonathan dos Santos has been a very decent player for the L.A. Galaxy, a hard worker, and a good passer, Dos Santos stepped out of his brother’s shadow and became a main piece in the Galaxy’s midfield.

19. Chris Wondolowski

The MLS all-time leading goal scorer, Chris Wondolowski, continues to light up the nets in MLS at the age of 37. Rumors have it that he will return for 2021, although not certain for San Jose, Wondo is a shining example that Goonies never say die.

18. Johnny Russell

One of the most underrated players in MLS the Scotsman Johnny Russell has been nothing short of gold for Sporting KC. He continued to be clutch in the 2020 season scoring 6 goals in 21 games.

17. Diego Rossi

The MLS 2020 golden boot, Diego Rossi, had a breakout year for LAFC, although Rossi has gotten better in each of his three MLS seasons. Not only did he win the golden boot, but he finally got his long-awaited call up to the Uruguayan national team. Rumors have it that Rossi is Serie A bound and it looks unlikely he will return in 2021.

16. Edison Flores

The Peruvian international, Edison Flores, was supposed to take D.C. United to new heights but he along with D.C. had a poor 2020 season. Flores was injured and could only play 13 games and provide 3 assists. Flores will look to have a better 2021.

15. Nicolas Lodeiro

The Uruguayan midfielder is one of the best players in Sounders history and quite frankly one of the best number 10’s in MLS history. The two-time MLS Cup champion looks to win his third with the Sounders this season.

14. Alan Pulido

The high priced Mexican international did not disappoint in his first MLS season for Sporting KC. Alan Pulido scored 6 goals in 12 games and with one season under his belt, he will be one of the most entertaining players to watch in 2021.

13.Diego Chara

Mr. Portland Timbers, Diego Chara has been with the team since 2011, the strong and fun defensive midfielder is the heart and soul of the Timbers. At 34 he has proven very resilient to the tough grinds of MLS being one of the team fanfavorite players for well over 8 seasons.

12. Alejandro Bedoya

The Philadelphia Union captain and 2014 World Cup veteran for the USMNT, Alejandro Bedoya has been a vocal leader in Philadelphia, not only on the field but off the field. He was one of the first MLS players to speak out about social issues in the U.S. and has turned into one of the Union’s all-time best players.

11. Diego Valeri

The Argentine maestro, Diego Valeri is the Portland Timbers. No player identifies so much with their club than Valeri at Portland. Valeri has done it all in Portland, winning MLS Cup, the MLSisBack tournament, and cementing himself in the community, a class-act.

10. Brenden Aaronson

Get his jersey while you can because Brenden Aaronson is out of here. In his two seasons in MLS Aaronson has played 51 games and scored 7 goals for the Union. He has loads of talent and will transfer to RB Salzburg in Austria at season’s end. He is one of the most talented players to ever come out of MLS, and it won’t be long before he is with the USMNT.

9. Blaise Matuidi

The World Cup winner came to Inter Miami to give the team a much-needed spark. Blaise Matuidi’s hard work and leadership were instrumental in turning things around for a franchise that was going south and fast. He will be a huge piece of the puzzle in 2021.

8. Raul Ruidiaz

The Peruvian international does one thing, put the ball in the back of the net. Raul Ruidiaz has been nothing but lethal for the Sounders, scoring 33 goals in 53 matches. A fan favorite and one of the best in the league he has some highlight-reel goals in his three years in the league.

7. Nani

The former Manchester United midfielder, Nani, has reshaped Orlando City, helping them get to their first-ever MLS Cup playoffs. Nani has been a leader for Orlando City and has been extremely fun to watch this season with spectacular goals and assists.

6.Gonzalo Higuain

El Pipita comes with a pedigree few have in MLS, the Argentine international and former Juventus and Real Madrid striker is the league’s highest-paid player. Gonzalo Higuain provided a much-needed spark to an Inter Miami side in desperate need during 2020, although he scored only 1 goal his season was cut short when hetested positive for covid-19.

5. Rodolfo Pizarro

The Mexican international and teammate of Higuain’s Rodolfo Pizarro took a bit to get adjusted to MLS but with some support turned his season around and showed his class. Pizarro and Higuain were just getting started but that magic will have to wait until 2021.

4. Jordan Morris

A lot of expectations were put on Jordan Morris over the years and while he has lived up to them, the on again off again USMNT player has always been a contributor for the Seattle Sounders.

3. Josef Martinez

The most lethal target man in MLS, Josef Martinez has badly missed this season by Atlanta United, who had a dreadful 2020. Martinez will be back in 2021 and the man who scored 72 goals in 81 matches will be putting all MLS goalkeepers on alert!

2. Javier Hernandez

Well, at least Chicharito Javier Hernandez is selling jerseys, cause he hasn’t done much else in his very disappointing first MLS Season. The LA Galaxy were a mess this season and Chicharito was equally as bad, scoring 2 goals in 12 outings. He will be back in 2021 and MLS hopes they can get that egg off their face.

1. Carlos Vela

The Mexican and LAFC super star is the top-selling jersey in all of Major League Soccer. Carlos Vela has been nothing short of MVP class in MLS with great goals and strong leadership. 2020 was not LAFC’s nor Vela’s best but , in 2021 he might finally be able to lead the team to their first MLS cup.