The top Latin goalscorers in Major League Soccer history

Josef Martinez has been prolific in MLS
Josef Martinez has been prolific in MLS / Steph Chambers/GettyImages
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Throughout its 27 years of existence, Major League Soccer has grown to attract worldwide attention and see international talents thrive on the fields.

Players like Camilo Sanvezzo, Jaime Moreno and Luciano Emilio have all graced the league and broken several club records to give MLS its latin flare. 

Hispanic presence in MLS has never been a doubt, but as the impact heightens we must look back at the top seven most influential goalscorers within the American league.


7. Diego Rossi

Diego Rossi
Los Angeles FC forward Diego Rossi during the 2020 season / Alex Menendez/GettyImages

Uruguayan player Diego Rossi stunned audiences during his time in LAFC. He stands as the last Latino to have won the MLS Golden Boot, earning the title in 2020 after scoring 14 goals. 

That same season, the forward was also named top scorer of the MLS is Back tournament and MLS Young Player of the Year. 

Rossi has since departed the American league to feature for Turkey’s Fenerbahce, but not before marking his name into MLS history.

6. Chicharito

San Jose Earthquakes v Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy player Chicharito has scored 16 goals in two seasons / Shaun Clark/GettyImages

Mexican forward Chicharito Hernandez had a slow start to his MLS career, scoring only two goals for LA Galaxy in 2020 before really taking off in 2021. 

This season, he has been a whole different player. Chicharito has contributed 14 goals and three assists for LA Galaxy to secure a 2021 MLS playoff spot. Much is still expected of the Mexican player, who is likely to climb this list in the near future.

5. Camilo Sanvezzo

Camilo Sanvezzo
Camilo Sanvezzo playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps / Derek Leung/GettyImages

The current Mazatlan FC player had great success in Major League Soccer before moving on to Liga MX. Sanvezzo featured for the Vancouver Whitecaps, recording 22 goals during the 2013 season.

4. Carlos Vela

Carlos Vela
Los Angeles FC player Carlos Vela stands in 7th on the top hispanic goalscorer list / Michael Janosz/ISI Photos/GettyImages

Carlos Vela made MLS history in 2019 by recording 34 goals to win the Golden Boot and set the record for most scored in one season.  That same year, he led LAFC to lift the MLS Supporters’ shield and earned the title of Most Valuable Player in the league. 

Though he’s suffered several injury setbacks, the Mexican forward is well on his way back to becoming his best version.

3. Josef Martinez

Josef Martinez
Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez won the 2018 Golden Boot / Michael Reaves/GettyImages

Atlanta United fan favorite Josef Martinez made himself known in 2018. That season, Martinez accumulated 31 goals to earn the MLS Golden Boot and MVP. 

After struggling with an ACL injury last year, Martinez is back on the field, shining for Atlanta by recording 10 goals and one assist so far.

2. Carlos Ruiz

Wizards v Galaxy
Carlos Ruiz celebrating after winning the league trophy in 2002 / Robert Laberge/GettyImages

In 2002, the Guatemalan player led the LA Galaxy to lift the MLS Cup and MLS Supporters’ Shield by scoring 24 goals alone. During the MLS Cup final, Ruiz stunned audiences and scored the only goal to be named Player of the Match and overall MVP. 

A year later, Ruiz topped the goalscoring charts again, sharing the trophy for most points with Taylor Twellman.

1. Jaime Moreno

Jaime Moreno
D.C. United's Jaime Moreno is one of the most influential hispanic players in MLS league / Larry French/GettyImages

Bolivian forward Jaime Moreno made league history on several occasions, remembered by fans as the most influential Latin MLS player of his time. 

He won the Goleo Champion title during the 1997 season while playing for D.C. United, and stands fourth on the top scorers in all of league history with a total of 133. 

Moreno has lifted the MLS Cup four times, the US Open Cup twice and the MLS Supporters’ shield on four occasions, all with D.C. United. 

During his time with the team, he also won the Concacaf Champions League and the Inter-American Cup.