The Major League Soccer (MLS) season kickstarted over the weekend as teams and players are ready to stamp their authority on the competition. The 2024 season of the MLS is expected to attract a big chunk of the crowd after the arrival of World Cup-winning captain of Argentina Lionel Messi, a candidate to win the Golden Boot as well. However, still in its early days, it is the former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke who has set the pace for this season’s Golden Boot.
MLS Golden Boot
It is expected to be a fierce battle for the top individual honour of the MLS as Benteke and Messi are likely to receive competition from the likes of Luis Suarez and the current holder Denis Bouanga. However, as things stand, it is the Belgian Benteke who is leading the chart with his hat-trick on the opening weekend for D.C. United against New England.
The 33-year-old was at his fluent best against New England and scored in the 34, 72 and second minute of second half stoppage time to lead the charts. The hat-trick, first of Benteke’s MLS career, propelled D.C. United to their first win of the season with a scoreline of 3-1.
The Belgian is then followed by Antony of Portland Timbers with two goals on the opening weekend of the MLS against Colorado in their 4-1 win. He scored both his goals in the first half which saw Portland cruise to a 4-0 lead at the break in the match. The win was also the biggest in the MLS opening weekend.
Antony is followed by the great Messi, who also had an adventurous opening weekend despite scoring only once. However, the legendary striker assisted twice during the opening two matches of the MLS season, which sees him occupy the third spot.
MLS Golden Boot Race
Christain Benteke, D.C. United – 3 Goals
Antony, Portland – 2 Goals
Lionel Messi, Inter Miami – 1 Goal
While still early days in the MLS, it would be interesting on who gets their hand on the biggest individual prize of the league. Suarez, who has picked up an assist so far in the MLS season will also be in the race to win the MLS Golden Boot, having done so in the Premier League and the La Liga in the past.
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