Top 5 Players with Most Goals + Assists in MLS 2024: Inter Miami Ace Lionel Messi Stars

Major League Soccer’s (MLS) regular season has reached its climax, with all teams across both Eastern and Western Conferences scheduled to come out for one last dance on October 20. Led by the legendary Lionel Messi, Eastern Conference powerhouse Inter Miami has emerged as the best team of MLS 2024, winning the Supporters’ Shield and qualifying for the MLS Cup as the No. 1 seed.

Needless to say, Messi has been integral to his team’s success this season, despite missing a major chunk of games due to injury. Continue reading to look at his regular season numbers and explore where he ranks on our list of the top five players with the most goals and assists in MLS 2024.

Let’s begin!

#5 Christian Benteke (DC United): 30 Goals + assists

Former Liverpool forward Christian Benteke has set MLS alight this season, delivering a masterclass in goalscoring. Playing 29 MLS games, the 33-year-old center-forward has scored a league-best 23 times from 45 shots on target. The ex-Crystal Palace man has also looked out for his teammates, turning provider on seven occasions.

Benteke unfortunately has not gotten the support he would have wanted from his teammates this season. Despite the striker’s heroics, DC United finds itself in eighth place in the Eastern Conference rankings and must participate in the playoffs to reach the MLS Cup final series.

#4 Cucho Hernandez (Columbian Crew): 32 Goals + assists

Columbian Crew center-forward has enjoyed a fine MLS 2024 campaign. He has showcased his impressive off-the-ball movement, ability to slide into little pockets of space, and razor-sharp finishing ability, bagging 19 goals in 26 matches. Level with Denis Bouanga, he is the joint-second-highest goalscorer in the division. Hernandes has also shown his creative side throughout the season, claiming 13 assists.

The Colombian forward’s contributions have helped Columbus Crew finish second in the Eastern Conference rankings and comfortably secure a place in the final series. It will be interesting to see if Hernandez can continue to impress in the final series’ unforgiving format.

#3 Lionel Messi (Inter Miami): 32 Goals + assists

The most high-profile player to ever feature in MLS, Lionel Messi has been at his flamboyant best this season, showing why he remains one of the best in the business even at 37. Messi has amassed 17 goals and 15 assists in only 18 appearances, starting only 15 of them. Only Luis Suarez (18) has outscored him at Inter Miami after playing eight games more.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s goal involvements were crucial in helping Inter Miami win the Supporters’ Shield for the first time in their brief history. If Messi can keep himself fit for the final series, Inter Miami will surely be the team to beat.

#2 Evander (Portland Timbers): 33 Goals + assists

Portland Timbers attacking midfielder Evander has enjoyed a brilliant regular season in MLS 2024. Playing 26 games, the Brazilian racked up 15 goals and 18 assists. He is the division’s second-highest assist provider and has played 88 key passes.

Evander has done his best to push the Timbers directly into the MLS Cup final series, but it has not turned out that way. They are currently toiling in ninth place and will need to survive playoffs to qualify for the final tournament. There is, however, an off chance that they could end in seventh place and avoid playoffs altogether. But for that, they must beat Seattle Sounders on the final day and hope Minnesota loses to St. Louis.

#1 Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati): 33 Goals + assists

At the summit sits FC Cincinnati playmaker Luciano Acosta with an impressive haul of 33 goal contributions across the MLS 2024 regular season. Acosta chipped in with 14 goals and 19 assists in 31 games. Acosta’s heroics helped Cincinnati clinch a third-place finish in the Eastern Conference rankings and move into the Cup final series.

Acosta is currently the division’s leading assist provider and has also played the most key passes with 106.