Who has the most goals in MLS history?

Find out who holds the record for the most goals in MLS history, with a look at the league’s all-time top scorers and legendary strikers.

Goals have always been the quickest way to make a name in Major League Soccer (MLS). From the league’s early days to its modern, star-driven era, goals are still the stat fans look for first.

But MLS goal records work a little differently than in some other leagues. Longevity is the name of the game, but many MLS careers are shorter. A lot of players make a name for themselves then move abroad or switch leagues. 

So who actually sits top of the list, who chased them closest, and what do these numbers really tell us about scoring in MLS?

Who is the highest goal scorer in MLS history?

The all-time MLS goals record belongs to Chris Wondolowski.

Wondolowski scored 174 regular-season MLS goals across 17 seasons, making him the most prolific scorer in league history.

That total is the product of a long-spanning career of consistency. Wondolowski played through multiple phases of MLS, from earlier expansion-heavy years to more recent seasons with deeper squads and increased rotation. Rather than relying on one standout campaign, his record was built gradually by contributing goals season after season.

Because MLS doesn’t always retain top scorers for their entire careers, that kind of long-term presence is a major reason the record has proven difficult to challenge.

The top MLS goalscorers of all time

Here’s how the top of the all-time MLS scoring list looks:

1. Chris Wondolowski – 174 goals

2. Landon Donovan – 169 goals

3. Kei Kamara – 152 goals

4. Jaime Moreno – 145 goals

5. Jeff Cunningham – 140 goals

As we’ve mentioned, what links these players isn’t just goal output, but time spent in the league. Each built their totals across many seasons, often with the same club. In MLS, that continuity plays a large role in shaping record lists.

Why some MLS goal records are harder to break

One of the reasons Wondolowski’s record still stands is simple: modern MLS careers are shorter.

Top scorers today are more likely to move abroad, rotate through leagues, or change roles earlier. Staying in Major League Soccer long enough to reach 170+ goals requires consistency, and a willingness to build an entire career in the league.

That’s why players like Josef Martínez sit in an interesting space. Martínez scored 137 goals in just 225 appearances, one of the fastest scoring rates in MLS history. 

On pure output per match, he’s right up there with the best of them. But injuries and shorter stints made it almost impossible for him to challenge the all-time list.

Who scored the most goals in a single MLS season?

The single-season MLS goals record still belongs to Carlos Vela. Vela scored 34 goals in the 2019 season for LAFC, breaking the previous record and doing it in style. 

Season records like this are heavily influenced by team structure and the number of opportunities created, which is why they tend to fluctuate more than all-time totals.

The most important thing here is context. Vela’s soccer-scoring total was built in a league that had opened up tactically, with quicker transitions and far more attacking freedom than earlier eras. It was explosive, dominant, and hasn’t been matched since.

What MLS goal totals actually reflect

Goals still shape most MLS seasons.

Across a long schedule, short scoring runs can make a real difference. A striker hitting form for a few weeks can push a team up the table, secure a playoff place, or improve seeding heading into the postseason.

That’s why goal records aren’t just about finishing ability. They reflect opportunity, role, and availability. Players who stay fit, play regularly, and remain central to their team’s attack naturally climb the all-time lists. One big season helps, but lasting impact usually comes from showing up and contributing year after year.

Follow goals as they happen with Match Bingo

Most MLS goals build up over time.

They come after spells of pressure, repeated shots, or an opponent’s defence starting to slip. Match Bingo focuses on those moments as they happen.

Instead of only reacting when a goal goes in, the boards highlight things like attacking momentum and players getting into dangerous positions more often. That gives you a better sense of where a match is heading before the breakthrough arrives.

If you like following the flow behind the goals, Match Bingo gives you a simple way to stay tuned into those patterns from kickoff to the final whistle.