Juan Pablo Aravena
Latin American goalscorers have made history in the United States, and the influence of Latino players in the MLS has been significant since the league’s foundation in 1996. South American, Central American, and Mexican talent have always been at the forefront, consistently setting the standard year after year. This also applies to goal-scoring, as some of the most significant Latin American goalscorers have left an indelible mark on the league.
Here is a list of the five most important Latino goalscorers in MLS history. Two of these players are still active and could continue to break records if they continue playing in the league for several more years.
The All-time Latino Leading Goalscorers in the MLS: Jaime Moreno
FILE – In this Aug. 15, 2007, file photo, DC United’s Jaime Moreno, left, controls of the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham during a SuperLiga semifinal soccer game at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Moreno entered the league during its inaugural season in 1996, and he’ll play his last game Saturday when United ends their regular season against Toronto FC at RFK Stadium. He is the only player in MLS history with 100 goals and 100 assists. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
Jaime Moreno, the Bolivian striker, played for most of his career with DC United, but he also spent one season with the MetroStars, now known as New York Red Bulls, during the 2003 campaign. He only scored two goals in 11 games with the Big Apple team, but he made a massive impact with the DC United, where he is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. In fact, Moreno is the fourth-highest scoring player in MLS history, with 133 goals in 340 games. He retired from professional soccer in 2011 but left a lasting legacy in the league.
Latino players still playing in the MLS Josef Martinez
FILE – In this Oct. 24, 2019, file photo, Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez (7) scores a goal as Philadelphia Union defender Mark McKenzie (4) defends during the second half of an MLS soccer Eastern Conference semifinal in Atlanta. One of the most dynamic strikers in Major League Soccer history, and the face of Atlanta United’s stunning rise to the top of the league, Martinez missed nearly all of last season recovering from a serious knee injury. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Atlanta United’s Venezuelan striker is one of the top active scorers in MLS and is also the player most likely to continue climbing this list due to his efficiency and age. The former Torino player missed almost the entire 2020 season due to a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee, but returned in full force in 2021, as well as being among the league’s top scorers in both 2018 and 2019. He registers 89 goals in 108 games with Atlanta.
Carlos Ruiz
Ruiz is an icon of Guatemalan soccer and also of MLS, having scored 89 goals in 183 games in the United States after playing for FC Dallas, Los Angeles Galaxy, Toronto FC, Philadelphia Union and DC United. In total, he registered 183 games in the league, although he retired in 2017. He was named MLS MVP in 2002 when he played for the Galaxy, a year in which he scored 24 goals. It is also worth noting that his performances also earned him a place in this group of all-time MLS Latino goalscorers.
Diego Valeri
Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri (8) plays during the second half of the MLS soccer Western Conference final against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Portland, Ore. Portland Timbers won 2-0. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Diego Valeri, the Argentine midfielder, had a diverse soccer journey, playing in Argentina, Portugal, and Spain before finally arriving in MLS, where he’s become one of the league’s biggest stars in the last decade. Despite not being a forward, the former Lanús player has scored an incredible 85 goals in 259 games, representing the Portland Timbers. In fact, Valeri is the only non-forward on this list of top Latin American goalscorers. He was named the MLS MVP in 2017 after registering 21 goals and 11 assists with the Western Conference franchise. Valeri’s impressive performances have made him a beloved player in the league, and he’s sure to continue leaving his mark on the MLS.
Raul Diaz Arce
FILE – In this April 6, 1996 file photo, D.C. United forward Raul Diaz Arce, of El Salvador, moves the ball downfield against San Jose Clash defenders Michael Emenalo, left, from Nigeria, and Victor Mella, partially obscured, from Chile, during first half of the inaugural MLS soccer game at San Jose, Calif. The San Jose Clash hosted D.C. United in the inaugural Major League Soccer match, a nationally televised game that attracted a sellout crowd of 31,683, to Spartan Stadium, (AP Photo/Craig Fujii)
Salvadoran striker Raúl Díaz Arce defended the jersey of five different teams in MLS during his career, and his name will go down in the league’s history. He played 150 games in major U.S. soccer and recorded 82 goals. He defended DC United, New England Revolution, MetroStars, Tampa Bay Mutiny and Colorado Rapids. Although he never achieved great success with the El Salvador national team, his contribution to MLS history as one of the competition’s top Latino scorers is beyond question.
