The 2024 Major League Soccer Golden Boot race reached its conclusion on Decision Day with a certain former Liverpool and Crystal Palace player claiming this year's top goalscorer award.
33-year-old veteran striker Christian Benteke scored 23 goals throughout the regular season to take home the Golden Boot award. D.C. United relied on Benteke to find the back of the net again and again in 2024 but it wasn't enough to lift the team to an MLS Cup Playoff spot.
Meanwhile, Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Luis Surez both scored 20 goals in a historic season for the south Florida club. The duo combined for 40 goals to score 51% of Miami's 78 league goals as the Herons clinched the Supporters' Shield title and collected 74 points, the most-ever in a single season.
2023 Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga came up with 20 goals for LAFC to help the team clinch the top spot in the Western Conference over rivals LA Galaxy. Columbus Crew's Cucho Hernndez bagged 19 goals in the league to finish in second place in the Eastern Conference as Wilfried Nancy's team eyes a second-straight MLS Cup title.
Here are the best goals from this year's top five Golden Boot finalists.
1. Christian Benteke (D.C. United) vs. Minnesota United
As Benteke is in the twilight of his career, he's become more accustomed to sitting deep and taking on the poacher role by rising above defenders to head home crosses and finishing off loose balls.
However, this run against Minnesota United was nothing short of impressive. Benteke nutmegs the would-be Minnesota defender before showing off his composure and physicality to hold on to the ball and slide his shot just under the goalkeeper.
2. Denis Bouanga (LAFC) vs. St Louis CITY
Teams know what's coming when Bouanga gets the ball on the left-hand side, but they just can't stop it.
It's almost a given that the Gabon international will cut on his favored right foot to send a strike toward goal, and that's exactly what he did here.
3. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) vs. Columbus Crew
Every MLS team knows the danger of conceding a free kick near its own penalty area when Messi is on the other team.
Messi found himself standing in a free kick in a perfect position just to the left of the Columbus goal. The 37-year-old curled in an perfect effort around the Crew wall en route to Miami winning the Supporters' Shield.
4. Luis Surez (Inter Miami) vs. New England Revolution
Surez played a vital role in Miami achieving the greatest regular season in MLS history with his first-half brace against New England Revolution.
Miami found itself down 20 early on and El Pistolero managed a brace just before halftime to bring the game to level terms. His second goal of the game was vintage Surez as Miami's No. 9 cut inside before firing home a well-placed effort to level the score.
5. Cucho Hernndez (Columbus Crew) vs. Sporting Kansas City
Hernndez continues to prove why he's the most well-rounded striker in MLS with this stunning free kick vs. Sporting Kansas City to round off his hat trick.
The former Watford striker is capable of holding the ball up, playing as a poacher while leaping for headers and scoring via dead-ball scenarios like he did against SKC.
