The all-time leading scorer in Major League Soccer history is Carlos Vela, who scored 85 goals during his MLS career from 2018 to 2023, primarily with Los Angeles FC (LAFC). Vela broke the previous record held by Chris Wondolowski, who finished his career with 74 MLS regular season goals.
Vela's record-breaking achievement came during a remarkable period with LAFC, where he not only set the all-time scoring record but also holds the single-season MLS scoring record with 34 goals in 2019. His clinical finishing, creativity, and ability to score from various positions made him one of the most prolific forwards in MLS history.
Other notable all-time MLS leading scorers include Chris Wondolowski (74 goals), Jeff Cunningham (73 goals), and Landon Donovan (57 goals). These players helped establish the foundation of goal-scoring excellence in Major League Soccer over its nearly three-decade history.