MLS Top Goal Scorer: Golden Boot 2024 - Odds, Prediction, Best Picks

The new season of the Major League Soccer (MLS) is well underway, and the race for playoff qualification is expected to be intense. While the clubs fight for a ticket to the knockouts, a few players will gear up to become top contenders for the Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the season.

After scoring 20 goals in 31 appearances during the regular season, Denis Bouanga clinched the MLS 2023 Golden Boot. The Los Angeles FC product added five more to his tally during the playoffs, but the knockout stage goals do not count in the Golden Boot race. The winner of the individual award is decided before the playoff season begins.

FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta and Atlanta United’s Giorgos Giakoumakis were tied for second place, with both players scoring 17 goals. The former was eventually named the MVP of the MLS 2023 campaign after he ended the campaign with 31 goals. The Argentine scored 19 goals and provided 12 assists in 36 games.

Juan Hernandez was influential in Columbus Crew’s title-winning run last year. At the end of the regular season, the Colombian had a goal tally of 16. He scored five more goals during the playoffs, including the opener against Los Angeles FC in the final. This season, Hernandez is off to a great start again, as he has scored 19 goals.

MLS Top Goal Scorer 2024 - Odds

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Lionel Messi will be the top competitor for the Golden Boot in any league that he plays in. Hence, the bookmakers have backed him as the firm favorite to win the award prior to the Copa America but things have changed in the market and due to the injury he suffered during the tournament. His former Barcelona and current Inter Miami teammate, Luis Suarez, his odds have fallen currently out the top three, while DC United's Christian Benteke is now in pole position to capture the 2024 Golden Boot with five matches left in the 2024 regular season as he has notched 23 goals total so far.

MLS 2024 Golden Boot Winner - Analysis

The 33-year-old Benteke maintaining a solid goal-scoring form bagging 23 goals as he currently leads the 2024 MLS Golden Boot race. Sitting in pole position atop the leaderboard in the goals category, Christian Benteke has moved up the charts and now for the first time this campaign in consecutive months is the odds on favorite to capture the Golden Boot

Bouanga was ranked surprisingly low in the outrights table to begin the campaign but has steadily moved up during the season. Currently the LAFC product is the second favorite to capture the goal scoring title as he has bagged 19 goals in 2024. Though the Gabonian is the reigning title holder and no player in history has ever won the MLS Golden Boot in two consecutive seasons putting Bouanga at a disadvantage to repeat.

Rounding up the top three in the Golden Boot race with two weeks left in the campaign, Columbus Crew sniper Juan “Cucho” Hernandez has climbed up the odds charts. The 25-year-old is in searing form towards the end of the campaign as he’s currently tallied six goals in his last five MLS outings.

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MLS 2024 Golden Boot Winner - My Pick

Denis Bouanga (+2500) at bet365

With the final implied odds in the Golden Boot race, Christian Benteke will most likely finish as this year's winner with his four goal lead and one remaining full slate of fixtures. With the astronomically high odds, there is zero value wagering on him. Think out of the remaining two contestants in the race, Dennis Bouanga has the best shot of surpassing Benteke than Juan Hernandez does.

The LAFC product will have his last chance to pull off the miraculous feat against the lowly San Jose Earthquakes on the final day in the competition known as decision day in MLS. The Quakes have conceded a total of 75 goals, the highest amount in the league. It's a long shot to take Bouanga at +2500, but there is a chance he could carve out his opponents who also happen to be the worst side in MLS in the 2024 table.

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