Kei Kamara, the legendary striker whose 147 regular-season goals rank second all-time in MLS history, announced his retirement from professional soccer on Monday.
The 41-year-old made the news official on social media, capping a remarkable career that spanned 20 years and a record 12 MLS clubs.
"I never played for just one crest," Kamara said in his farewell message. "I played for the love of the game."
MLS icon
Kamara's iconic career began in 2006 as a first-round SuperDraft pick (No. 9 overall) by the Columbus Crew.
He also played for Chicago Fire FC, Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo FC, LAFC, Minnesota United FC, CF Montréal, New England Revolution, San Jose Earthquakes, Sporting Kansas City and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Kamara's final stint was with FC Cincinnati during the 2025 MLS season.
A 2015 MLS Best XI selection, Kamara was also a two-time MLS All-Star who won two US Open Cup titles.
His 464 regular-season appearances are third all-time for field players in MLS history, trailing only Dax McCarty (488) and Kyle Beckerman (498).
Global career
In addition to his MLS legacy, Kamara played in England for Middlesbrough and Norwich City, as well as HIFK Fotboll in Finland.
Internationally, Kamara scored eight goals in 45 matches for Sierra Leone. He captained the Leone Stars during FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
"From Sierra Leone to America, 20 years of chasing something bigger," Kamara said. "Goals fade, records fade. But what you carry forward, that stays."
