Golden Boot

LAFC's Dénis Bouanga wins 2023 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi

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LAFC forward Dénis Bouanga has won the 2023 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi after scoring 20 goals, using a late-season surge to become the league’s top scorer.

Bouanga, who also contributed seven assists, beat out FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta (17 goals) and Atlanta United's Giorgos Giakoumakis (17 goals) for the award. The Gabon international is the third Black & Gold player to win the honor in the last five years, following Diego Rossi in 2020 and Carlos Vela in 2019.

Bouanga’s goal-scoring prowess helped LAFC finish 3rd in the Western Conference, setting up a Round One Best-of-3 series vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Now, they’ll look to become the fourth team in league history to win consecutive MLS Cups, with this year’s final set for Dec. 9.

While the Golden Boot only considers MLS goals, the midseason 2022 signing was electric during other competitions as well. The 28-year-old Designated Player scored 13 goals in 11 games across Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup, including four hat-tricks.

Bouanga joins the pantheon of players to win the Golden Boot, which has been awarded since the league's inaugural season in 1996.

From 1996-2004, it was awarded under a points-based system that gave two points for a goal and one for an assist, before switching to outright goals. Check out the full list of Golden Boot winners below.

MLS Golden Boot Winners 2005-2023 (outright goals)
Year
Player
Club
Goals
2023
Dénis Bouanga
LAFC
20
2022
Hany Mukhtar
Nashville
23
2021
Taty Castellanos
NYCFC
19
2020
Diego Rossi
LAFC
14
2019
Carlos Vela
LAFC
34
2018
Josef Martínez
Atlanta
31
2017
Nemanja Nikolić
Chicago
24
2016
Bradley Wright-Phillips
New York
24
2015
Sebastian Giovinco
Toronto
22
2014
Bradley Wright-Phillips
New York
27
2013
Camilo Sanvezzo
Vancouver
22
2012
Chris Wondolowski
San Jose
27
2011
Dwayne De Rosario
D.C. United
16
2010
Chris Wondolowski
San Jose
18
2009
Jeff Cunningham
Dallas
17
2008
Landon Donovan
LA Galaxy
20
2007
Luciano Emilio
D.C. United
20
2006
Jeff Cunningham
Salt Lake
16
2005
Taylor Twellman
New England
17
MLS Golden Boot Winners 1996-2004 (points-based system)
Year
Player
Club
Points
2004
Amado Guevara, Pat Noonan
MetroStars, New England
30
2003
Preki
Kansas City
41
2002
Taylor Twellman
New England
52
2001
Alex Pineda Chacón
Miami
47
2000
Mamadou Diallo
Tampa Bay
56
1999
Jason Kreis
Dallas
51
1998
Stern John
Columbus
57
1997
Preki
Kansas City
41
1996
Roy Lassiter
Tampa Bay
58