It all comes down to Decision Day presented by AT&T as the race for the Golden Boot presented by Audi comes down to the final day of the MLS regular season.
Carlos Vela and Zlatan Ibrahimovic both scored again in Week 30 action, keeping the Mexican two goals ahead of the Swede at 31 and 29 strikes apiece, respectively.
With his precision left-foot strike in the 1-1 draw at Minnesota United, Vela tied Josef Martinez's MLS single-season record of 31 goals, set last season. The former Arsenal and Real Sociedad forward will now have the chance to break Martinez's record in LAFC's final regular season game, versus the Colorado Rapids (4 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada).
Speaking of Josef, Atlanta United's Venezuelan marksman remains on 26 goals this season, but could return after missing consecutive games with a knee/ankle injury sustained in a 3-1 win over San Jose. Atlanta coach Frank de Boer said it's up to Martinez if he plays against New England Sunday (4 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada).
With his latest goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps, in a surprise 4-3 home defeat for the Galaxy, Ibrahimovic has now scored 13 goals in his last nine games, and has also chipped in four assists during that time. If Ibrahimovic scores his fourth MLS hat trick Sunday when the Galaxy meet the Houston Dynamo (4 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada) and Vela is held scoreless, Ibra will be the Golden Boot winner.
Here's where things stand going into Decision Day.
Player |
Goals |
Remaining schedule |
|---|---|---|
Carlos Vela |
31 |
vs. COL |
Zlatan Ibrahimovic |
29 |
@ HOU |
Josef Martinez |
26 |
vs. NE |
Vela and LAFC have already secured the Shield and the Western Conference's top postseason seed; will they rest or rotate players in their final game?
Ibrahimovic and the Galaxy have clinched a playoff spot and can still climb as high as second in the West with a victory at Houston.
So it's Vela vs. Ibra for the Golden Boot. Who ya got?
