“The team that we want to build is one that is very fast-paced, plays on the front foot, and is the aggressor in all games.”
- John Thorrington to the Los Angeles Times, March 2016
LAFC’s Co-President, General Manager, and the architect of its roster and on-field identity since the club’s inception, Thorrington said those words (above) two years before the Black & Gold took the pitch for its first game. Nearly ten years after he stated LAFC’s intentions, it’s safe to say that Thorrington's vision has been realized.
Son Heung-Min’s first-half goal against Colorado last Saturday marked the 500th goal LAFC has scored in its 260 regular-season games – the fastest any MLS club has ever reached that mark. Between Diego Rossi’s inaugural goal in the club’s first game, to Son’s left-footed rocket last weekend, there have been plenty of goals to remember along LAFC’s path to making history.
#1
DIEGO ROSSI
MARCH 4, 2018
With its home stadium in LA still under construction, MLS's newest expansion team played its first match in front of more than 40,000 fans at Lumen Field in Seattle. Eleven minutes in, Carlos Vela found Rossi making a run toward the top of the Sounders’ penalty area, and the Uruguayan, who had turned 20 the day before, made no mistake.
#59
WALKER ZIMMERMAN
OCT. 6, 2018
Walker Zimmerman scored the matchwinner against Colorado in the fall of 2018, tallying the initial goal in a 3-0 win that clinched the Black & Gold’s first berth in the MLS Cup playoffs.
#144
CARLOS VELA
AUG. 21, 2019
Vela and Rossi had already put LAFC ahead of the Earthquakes 2-0. Then they combined at midfield to set up one of the most memorable goals in league history.
#151, #152, #153
CARLOS VELA
OCT. 6, 2019
Coming into Decision Day 2019, Vela had already wrapped up the Golden Boot by scoring 31 goals. He needed one more to set the MLS single-season record. He bagged three.
#161, #162, #164, #166
DIEGO ROSSI
JULY 18, 2020
The world had endured a difficult 2020 to that point due to Covid-19. Rossi provided a brief escape for LAFC fans by scoring a quartet of goals in a 6-2 defeat of the Galaxy in the MLS Is Back Tournament, propelling him toward becoming the second straight LAFC player to win the MLS Golden Boot.
#228
BRIAN RODRIGUEZ
AUG. 28, 2021
In a tie game in the 58th minute, Brian Rodriguez pulled off what might still be the most breathtaking individual goal in club history. And it came against the Black & Gold’s biggest rival.
#309
GARETH BALE
AUG. 6, 2022
It wasn’t Gareth Bale’s first LAFC goal, and it definitely wasn’t his most impactful, but his one-v-one golazo against RSL in August 2022 loudly announced the Welsh legend’s arrival in MLS.
#319
DENIS BOUANGA
OCT. 2, 2022
Denis Bouanga’s first goal in an LAFC shirt remains one his most important. The French newcomer’s stoppage-time matchwinner in Portland secured the 2022 Supporters’ Shield and would allow LAFC to host the MLS Cup Final.
#320
GIORGIO CHIELLINI
MARCH 4, 2023
Legendary Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini scored his first and only goal for LAFC in the season opener in 2023.
#332
CARLOS VELA
APRIL 16, 2023
In LAFC’s first derby match of 2023, Vela began the scoring with a vintage left-footed curler that spurred the Black & Gold to its first ever victory in Carson.
#391
DENIS BOUANGA
APRIL 27, 2024
Tied 2-2 with Portland in second-half stoppage time, Denis Bouanga found the matchwinner with a right-footed rocket off the far post.
#400
MATEUSZ BOGUSZ
MAY 29, 2024
A long pass from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris helped set up this 2024 MLS Goal of the Year finalist – a blast from distance off the right foot of Mateusz Bogusz.
#436
MARLON
OCT. 19, 2024
On Decision Day 2024, LAFC needed to defeat San Jose by two goals to have a chance of finishing first in the Western Conference. Ahead by one goal in stoppage time, newly acquired Brazilian defender Marlon came through on a set piece.
#445
SERGI PALENCIA
APRIL 12, 2025
Workhorse fullback and fan favorite Sergi Palencia had never scored a first-division goal in ten years as a professional. Then a rebound bounced his way during an April home match against San Jose.
#451
DENIS BOUANGA
APRIL 27, 2025
Four minutes into stoppage time, LAFC looked destined to suffer a 2-1 defeat at home. With time running out Bouanga took matters into his own hands, and took on St. Louis’ entire back line.
#480
SON HEUNG-MIN
AUG. 23, 2025
Two weeks after he joined LAFC, South Korean superstar Son Heung-Min scored his first goal for the Black & Gold, and he did it in style.
#486, #487, #488
SON HEUNG-MIN
SEPT. 17, 2025
In just his fifth start for LAFC, Son netted his first MLS hat trick on the same night that Bouanga became LAFC’s all-time top goal scorer.
#490, #492, #493
DENIS BOUANGA
SEPT. 21, 2025
On Noche de Carlos Vela (Carlos Vela Night) at BMO Stadium, Bouanga honored LAFC’s longtime captain and the player he had just surpassed as the club’s top scorer by netting a hat trick, making LAFC the first club in league history to have a player record a hat trick in three consecutive games.
