With 34 goals, LAFC striker Carlos Vela was proclaimed as the top scorer of the 2019 regular season, winning the 2019 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi and joining the top international goalscorers after breaking the MLS single-season goals record. Vela's 34 tallies place him in fifth place worldwide along with the current topscorers of LaLiga (Lionel Messi - 36 goals for FC Barcelona) and Ligue 1 (Kylian Mbappé - 33 goals for Paris Saint-Germain).
Vela became the first MLS Golden Boot winner to finish a season with a goals per game average higher than 1.0. The first Designated Player in the history of LAFC surpassed Josef Martinez’s 31-goal mark set last year. In addition, Vela’s combined total of goals (34) and assists (15) broke the MLS mark of 38, set by Toronto FC striker Sebastian Giovinco in 2015. Vela finished the year tied for third in assists with 15, while also leading the league in shots (160) and shots on goal (71).
By scoring 34 goals this year, Vela has raised $34,000 for the LAFC Academy through the 'Audi Goals Drive Progress' program, a multi-year initiative launch by Audi and dedicated to expanding the breadth of academy resources through contributions toward player education, housing and transportation. The funds raised by Vela - $1,000 per goal scored during the 2019 MLS season - will be used by the LAFC Academy to ensure young players are supported as they endeavor to maintain excellence on the pitch and in the classroom.
Vela was instrumental in helping the Club clinch the Supporters’ Shield, finishing the regular season with 72 points (overall record of 21-4-9). In his second campaign in Major League Soccer, Vela was named the 2019 MLS All-Star Game Captain for the second consecutive year, MLS Player of the Month twice, MLS Player of the Week six times, and to the MLS Team of the Week in 16 occasions.
