Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork: Meet the Team Behind This Year’s MLS Golden Boot Contenders

The Major League Soccer Golden Boot presented by Audi race will soon reach its conclusion with just weeks remaining in the regular season.

Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi was running away with the award early on in the season before an ankle injury on international duty this summer derailed his charge. As the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is back in the mix for the Herons, he could make a late run at the award in Miami's final games of the campaign.

Even though players like Cucho Hernandez, Petar Musa and Evander have had no problem finding the back of the net this season, their respective goal tallies don't exactly match up with the players at the top of the standings.

Miami's Supporters' Shield charge has been fueled by Messi and a certain former Barcelona teammate that leads the line, while a couple of attacking midfielders could sneak in at the last minute to snatch the award from a former Crystal Palace and Liverpool striker.

While these players have to put away the chances they're presented with, it's important to remember that they're also elevated with strong supporting casts to set them up for goalscoring opportunities.

5. Daniel Gazdag (17 goals) – Quinn Sullivan

Philadelphia Union's Quinn Sullivan has teed up attacking midfielder Daniel Gazdag two times this season to help him score 17 goals throughout the regular season.

As Gazdag typically plays just behind Union strikers Tai Baribo and Mikael Uhre, he's been able to feast off second chances by crashing an opposing team's penalty area to pounce on loose balls. Uhre and Baribo's presence up front also draws more attention to the two strikers and less on Gazdag.

4. Cristian Arango (17 goals) – Andres Gomez

It's no surprise that Andres Gomez and Cristian 'Chicho' Arango formed a great partnership up front for Real Salt Lake – both players are Colombia internationals.

Gomez assisted Arango three times before departing for Ligue 1 club Rennes earlier this summer. Full-back Alexandros Katranis and winger Diego Luna have also pitched in with two assists each to help their teammate sit near the top of the standings.

3. Denis Bouanga (18 goals) – Mateusz Bogusz

LAFC winger Denis Bouanga's 17 goals has him very much in the conversation to retain his 2023 Golden Boot title.

Fellow winger Mateusz Bogusz has had a part to play in Bouanga having a chance at winning the individual award for the second consecutive season, assisting the Gabon international twice. Defender Maxime Chanot has also stepped up with two assists for Bouanga.

Bouanga has also slotted home seven penalty kicks this season in which Timothy Tillman and Eduard Atuesta were fouled for two of those goals.

2. Christian Benteke (21 goals) – Jared Stroud

33-year-old Christian Benteke sits atop the Golden Boot standings with 19 goals leading the line for DC United.

The former Belgium international wouldn't have been able to score so many goals without the help of winger Jared Stroud. Stroud has assisted Benteke five times in MLS in 2024, more than any other DC player. Mateus Klich has also chipped in with three assists of his own to Benteke, pulling the strings from the midfield.

1. Luis Suarez (17 goals) – Lionel Messi

As many expected, Lionel Messi has had zero problems linking up with Luis Suarez at Inter Miami.

Messi has provided a team-leading five assists for the Uruguayan striker in the 2024 MLS season, with four of those coming in the 6–2 win over New York Red Bulls back in May.

Julian Gressel has also set Suarez up for three goals while Diego Gomez and Jordi Alba have assisted him twice. Winger Matias Rojas has helped the cause by taking some attention away from Suarez out on the wings to pull defenders out of position.

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