Can Cristian Arango break the record for MLS goals in a single season?

The Real Salt Lake striker has been in incredible form in 2024 and could beat Carlos Vela’s record tally with LAFC.

William GittinsWillGittUpdate: Jun 9th, 2024 16:19 EDT0

Rob GrayUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

When Real Salt Lake completed the deal to bring Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango back to MLS last summer, they knew they were getting a proven goalscorer. However the Colombian’s impact over the past year has exceeded all expectations.

Arango has now scored 24 goals and contributed five assists in 36 games for RSL, becoming the focal point of the attack under Pablo Mastroeni. His rate of scoring has been incredible in 2024 and, exactly halfway through the regular season, he stands a real chance of breaking the MLS scoring record.

The Real Salt Lake captain has scored 16 goals in 17 games this season, putting him three goals clear of Christian Benteke and four ahead of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez in the scorers’ charts.

Chicho Arango can't be stopped! 🔥A hat trick and assist gives him 25 goal contributions in 17 games (third fastest in MLS history). pic.twitter.com/SfQZtlw0UI

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 2, 2024

What is the MLS scoring record?

The highest-scoring individual season in the history of MLS is Carlos Vela’s 2019 campaign with LAFC, when he racked up 34 goals in 31 games for the Supporters’ Shield champions. Vela was named MLS MVP that year and that record tally has looked insurmountable in a 34-game season.

He is one of three players to reach 30 goals in a single season, along with Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez (31 goals in 2018) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at LA Galaxy (30 in 2019).