In 2025, top 5 best strikers MLS 2025 is much more than just names—it’s about who’s setting the league ablaze, who’s swallowing up chances and turning them into goals, and who’s giving defenders nightmares. At 2hanBall, we’ve crunched the numbers, watched the highlights, and picked the five strikers who are defining this MLS season.
Who Counts As A Top Striker
To identify the top 5 best strikers MLS 2025, we used several criteria:
- Number of goals
- Goal involvement
- Consistency across matches
- Impact in big games & hat-tricks
- Minutes per goal (efficiency)
With that in mind, here are the five who stand out.
The Elite Five Strikers of MLS 2025
1. Sam Surridge
Sam Surridge is the front-runner for the Golden Boot this season. He’s scored 21 goals in the regular season, topping the MLS goals chart.
What makes him special:
- Physical presence combined with intelligent movement
- Can finish with both feet and good with headers
- Steps up in tight moments; scores in clusters and in key fixtures
- Minutes per goal is excellent—he’s efficient—not just piling up goals in “easy” matches. ports)
2. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
Yes, even at 38, Messi is still among the elite. He’s put up 20 goals in regular MLS play in 2025.
Why Messi remains among the top 5 best strikers MLS 2025:
- Incredible vision and playmaking—lots of link-up with assists
- Not just scoring; he creates chances, dribbles, draws defenders, opens spaces
- Always dangerous in tight games; smart in positioning
- Even when teams mark him tightly, he influences the flow
3. Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC)
Bouanga is high on the list with 19 goals so far. He’s consistently fired LAFC into strong positions this season.
Strengths:
- Speed + movement: makes runs behind defenses
- Can both finish chances and create them
- Also has some clutch moments: hat-tricks, match winners
- Big part of LAFC’s attacking identity
4. Dejan Joveljic
Joveljic has been reliable this season, scoring 17 goals in the regular MLS season.
What earns him a spot:
- Strong in the box; good at positioning for crosses and rebounds
- Makes the most of chances; when he’s in the centre of things, he delivers
- He doesn’t need to do all the flashy stuff; he finishes, reliably
5. Tai Baribo (Philadelphia Union) / Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire) (Tie or Close Call)
These two are neck-and-neck for the fifth spot. Both have hit 16 goals.
Why each merits inclusion:
- Tai Baribo: Strong work rate, physical & pace combo, not just waiting in the box but helping press and link play.
- Hugo Cuypers: Great instincts, finishes well, has made some big impacts in tough matches.
If forced to pick just one, Baribo might just edge it for his consistency and moments in big games, but Cuypers is right behind.
Other Strong Contenders
These aren’t quite in the cut for the top 5, but worthy of mention:
- Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (NY Red Bulls) – solid goal returns, good experience.
- Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew) – flashes of brilliance, though less consistent.
- Petar Musa – plenty of promise, could break into the top later in the season.
Key Stats Comparison
Here’s a snapshot of how these top strikers stack up:
- Sam Surridge – 21 goals (most in MLS), excellent goals per match/minutes ratio.
- Messi – 20 goals + strong assists, huge influence beyond scoring.
- Bouanga – 19 goals; also setting records at LAFC.
- Dejan Joveljic – 17 goals, consistent, especially in a team that depends on him. m.
- Baribo / Cuypers – 16 goals each, both with slightly different styles but both effective.
Why These Five, Not Others?
Some players have flashy reputations or past success but haven’t produced numbers this season. Others may score, but not as consistently, not in big matches, or with lower efficiency. For example, newer arrivals may need more games to settle; some older stars are slower; injuries and team tactics also matter.
The top 5 best strikers MLS 2025 are those combining volume and impact: consistent goal scoring, strong presence in tight games, ability to deliver when it counts.
What This Means for Teams & Playoffs
- Nashville SC will lean heavily on Surridge in playoffs. If he’s hot, they’re dangerous.
- Inter Miami still depends a lot on Messi’s magic; his form could tilt big fixtures.
- LAFC with Bouanga are a threat in the West.
- Sporting KC with Joveljic need to build support around him to avoid being one-man dependent.
- Philadelphia and Chicago (with Baribo and Cuypers) will need backup scoring or dee.
Conclusion
top 5 best strikers MLS 2025 are not just about who’s scoring the most, but who’s doing it consistently, who’s carrying their team, and who steps up in the moments that matter.
- Sam Surridge leads the charge.
- Messi continues to surprise and dazzle.
- Bouanga, Joveljic bring relentless goal threat.
- Baribo and Cuypers round out the elite, pushing for top spots.
At 2hanBall, we’ll be following each twist in the Golden Boot race, each shocking hat-trick, each late winner. Want updates? Match reviews? Profiles of the strikers who are rising fast? Keep following us, share this with a friend who loves goals, and let’s see who ends the season as the undisputed top 5 best strikers MLS 2025.
