MLS Seasons
The complete history of Major League Soccer, season by season. From the inaugural 1996 campaign to the present day — every MLS Cup winner, MVP, Golden Boot, expansion team, and defining moment.
2025
30 teams2024
29 teamsMLS Cup: LA Galaxy
MVP: Evander
Golden Boot: Denis Bouanga (21)
2023
29 teamsMLS Cup: Columbus Crew
MVP: Luciano Acosta
Golden Boot: Denis Bouanga (20)
2022
28 teamsMLS Cup: LAFC
MVP: Hany Mukhtar
Golden Boot: Hany Mukhtar (23)
2021
27 teamsMLS Cup: New York City FC
MVP: Carles Gil
Golden Boot: Taty Castellanos (19)
2020
26 teamsMLS Cup: Columbus Crew
MVP: Alejandro Pozuelo
Golden Boot: Diego Rossi (14)
2019
24 teamsMLS Cup: Seattle Sounders
MVP: Carlos Vela
Golden Boot: Carlos Vela (34)
2018
23 teamsMLS Cup: Atlanta United
MVP: Josef Martinez
Golden Boot: Josef Martinez (31)
2017
22 teamsMLS Cup: Toronto FC
MVP: Diego Valeri
Golden Boot: Nemanja Nikolic (24)
2016
20 teamsMLS Cup: Seattle Sounders
MVP: David Villa
Golden Boot: Bradley Wright-Phillips (24)
2015
20 teamsMLS Cup: Portland Timbers
MVP: Sebastian Giovinco
Golden Boot: Sebastian Giovinco (22)
2014
19 teamsMLS Cup: LA Galaxy
MVP: Robbie Keane
Golden Boot: Bradley Wright-Phillips (27)
2013
19 teamsMLS Cup: Sporting Kansas City
MVP: Mike Magee
Golden Boot: Camilo Sanvezzo (22)
2012
19 teamsMLS Cup: LA Galaxy
MVP: Chris Wondolowski
Golden Boot: Chris Wondolowski (27)
2011
18 teamsMLS Cup: LA Galaxy
MVP: Dwayne De Rosario
Golden Boot: Chris Wondolowski (16)
2010
16 teamsMLS Cup: Colorado Rapids
MVP: David Ferreira
Golden Boot: Chris Wondolowski (18)
2009
15 teamsMLS Cup: Real Salt Lake
MVP: Landon Donovan
Golden Boot: Jeff Cunningham (17)
2008
14 teamsMLS Cup: Columbus Crew
MVP: Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Golden Boot: Landon Donovan (20)
2007
13 teamsMLS Cup: Houston Dynamo
MVP: Luciano Emilio
Golden Boot: Luciano Emilio (20)
2006
12 teamsMLS Cup: Houston Dynamo
MVP: Christian Gomez
Golden Boot: Jeff Cunningham (16)
2005
12 teamsMLS Cup: LA Galaxy
MVP: Taylor Twellman
Golden Boot: Taylor Twellman (17)
2004
10 teamsMLS Cup: D.C. United
MVP: Amado Guevara
Golden Boot: Brian Ching (12)
2003
10 teamsMLS Cup: San Jose Earthquakes
MVP: Preki
Golden Boot: Taylor Twellman (15)
2002
12 teamsMLS Cup: LA Galaxy
MVP: Carlos Ruiz
Golden Boot: Carlos Ruiz (24)
2001
12 teamsMLS Cup: LA Galaxy
MVP: Alex Pineda Chacon
Golden Boot: Alex Pineda Chacon (19)
2000
12 teamsMLS Cup: Sporting Kansas City
MVP: Tony Meola
Golden Boot: Mamadou Diallo (26)
1999
12 teamsMLS Cup: D.C. United
MVP: Jason Kreis
Golden Boot: Jason Kreis (18)
1998
12 teamsMLS Cup: Chicago Fire
MVP: Marco Etcheverry
Golden Boot: Stern John (26)
1997
10 teamsMLS Cup: D.C. United
MVP: Preki
Golden Boot: Jaime Moreno (16)
1996
10 teamsMLS Cup: D.C. United
MVP: Carlos Valderrama
Golden Boot: Roy Lassiter (27)