Carlos Vela holds the record as MLS's all-time leading scorer with 111 regular season goals. The Mexican forward achieved this milestone during his time with Los Angeles FC (LAFC) from 2018 to 2023, where he became one of the most prolific goalscorers in league history.
Vela broke the previous record held by Landon Donovan, who scored 145 goals across regular season and playoff matches combined. However, Vela's 111 goals represent the highest total for regular season play specifically. His peak season came in 2019 when he scored 34 goals, setting the single-season MLS record.
Other notable all-time leading scorers include Chris Wondolowski with 171 total goals (regular season and playoffs), Jeff Cunningham with 134 total goals, and Jaime Moreno with 133 total goals. The distinction between regular season and total goals (including playoffs) is important when discussing MLS scoring records.