MLS top scorers 2023: Lionel Messi plays catch up to Hany Mukhtar & Denis Bouanga in goals race

Hany Mukhtar is without a doubt the best forward in the MLS right now bar Messi. The reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner has delivered some scintillating performances in front of goal over the last three years for Nashville since arriving from Danish club IF Brondby. The 28-year-old do-it-all German attacker is once again the front-runner for the 2023 MVP, which would make him the first back-to-back recipient in the league's 27-year history.

Giakoumakis, who was the blockbuster No. 9 signing for Atlanta United in the offseason as they prepared for life without Josef Martinez, has so far proved worth every penny. The Greek international is no stranger to impressive production, tallying 26 goals in the Dutch Eredivisie for VVV-Venlo in 2020-21, and while reproducing that is a long shot in the MLS, he has already hit the 10-goal mark whilst also being a vital focal point to Atlanta's attack.

One of the big reasons behind the rise of FC Cincinnati from the bottom of the Eastern Conference a couple of years back to currently running away with the top spot is the presence of attacking playmaker Luciano “Lucho” Acosta, who is the team’s attacking hub.

The 29-year-old captain has a great ability to create plays and opportunities for his team, but he also has a knack for scoring goals. Last season, he was able to net an impressive ten goals in the league, and this season he's already surpassed the 10-goal mark, putting him in the running for a Golden Boot.

The former Mexico international has been on fire since returning to Sporting KC's ranks after a season-ending knee injury in 2022. He had a brilliant month in June, scoring six goals to win the Player of the Month.

Denis Bouanga, who is now into his first full season with LAFC, has been a revelation ever since arriving at the Los Angeles-based outfit from French club Saint-Etienne last summer. The 28-year-old Gabonese striker has been in electric form upfront in 2023 and stands a good chance to scoop the Golden Boot by the end of the regular season. With Bouanga in a goalscoring groove, the reigning MLS Cup winners' chances of winning the league in back-to-back seasons look promising.

Cristian Espinoza has been instrumental in the San Jose Earthquakes' 2023 turnaround under new boss Luchi Gonzalez. Arguably one of MLS' most underrated stars, he's now added goals to his game, hitting his stride in April, where he tallied five goals over four consecutive matches to win the Player of the Month award.

One of two Philadelphia Union players in the Golden Boot race's top tier, attacking midfielder Daniel Gazdag is the heartbeat of Union's attack. The omnipresent Hungarian came agonizingly close to winning the Golden Boot in 2022, finishing with 22 goals, just one shy of Golden Boot winner Mukhtar's final tally. It was no fluke, as the Union's Hungarian international No. 10 is again among the deadliest offensive players in MLS.

Orlando City had high hopes from their club-record signing Facundo Torres, the Uruguayan winger with a bright future.

The young Designated Player had a slow start last year when he arrived from Uruguayan side Club Atlético Peñarol, but eventually found form - posting nine goals and ten assists in 33 matches. This year has been another slow start for Torres, but he is again finding his best form and racking up attacking numbers.

After bagging 15 goals and seven assists in 35 games last season, Union winger Julian Carranza's prolific form this season proves his performances last term were not just a coincidence. He offers a powerful one-two punch in a strike partnership alongside Mikael Uhre.

A clinical and mobile striker, Brian White has been a goal-scoring revelation for the Whitecaps ever since joining the club in June 2021 via trade from Eastern Conference outfit New York Red Bulls.

Jesus Ferreira recently hit the headlines for his historic milestone at the Gold Cup as he became the first player in the history of the USMNT to achieve back-to-back hat tricks in international games.

Nicknamed 'The Pirate of the Caribbean' for his knack of scoring goals for fun against nations from that region, Ferreira's seamless transition to playing as FC Dallas' No.9 is truly impressive. He scored 18 goals for FC Dallas' in 2022 alone, and has picked up where he left in the 2023 MLS season.

Graduating from PSG's youth academy, Nicholas Gioacchini joined St. Louis City in November last year. The America international has had a staggering impact since his arrival scoring goals for fun.

The player was signed by St. Louis City SC in their expansion draft and since his arrival Gioacchini has been a exceptional forward. The youngster would be vying to add to his tally in the upcoming games and climb the ladder of the top scorers list.

Known for his scinitllating free-kicks, Lucas Zelarayan had become an integral part of Columbus Crew's side during his time in the MLS. The Armenian midfielder has the staggering ability to convert a dead ball situation into a goal with ease which was on display in the MLS.

After being linked to a switch to Saudi Arabia, Zelarayan finally made the move to Al-Fateh this summer as he hopes to continue his goalscoring form in the Middle East.

Right-winger Jordan Morris enjoyed a scorching run as a makeshift striker for Seattle Sounders, as evident by a four-goal display against Sporting KC. The rate of goals has surely slowed for the USMNT international over the last couple of months, but he is on his way to hitting double-digit goals, and perhaps even bettering his single-season best of 12.

Christian Benteke left the Premier League to join DC United in 2022, and since then has been a reliable target-man for Wayne Rooney's side. He was recently on a long goalless drought, but is steadily rediscover his scoring form.

A scrappy finisher who knows how to work between defenders and drop into the midfield to help link play, Nicholas Gioacchini has proven a fine draft pick for St. Louis City after one MLS season with Orlando City SC.

An all-action attacking playmaker, Ryan Gauld has proven himself to be a difference-maker for Vancouver Whitecaps since arriving in 2021 from Portugal.

Houston only signed Moroccan attacking midfielder Amine Bassi at the start of the season from French side FC Metz, and it's safe to say, he has taken to life in MLS like a duck to water. Very creative with great technique, and vision to exploits spaces in behind, he has already made MLS history, becoming the first player in league history to score on a penalty kick in four straight games.