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Diego Rossi becomes youngest player in history to win MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi

Rossi wins 2020 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi

Awards - 2020 - Golden Boot - Rossi

Diego Rossi becomes youngest player in history to win MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi
Uruguay international leads MLS with 14 goals scored at 22 years old
NEW YORK
(Sunday, November 8, 2020)
– Los Angeles Football Club forward Diego Rossi tonight won the 2020 Major League Soccer Golden Boot presented by Audi, at age 22 becoming the youngest player in MLS history to lead the league in goals scored. Rossi led MLS with 14 goals scored across 19 matches played this season, with a career-high goals-per-game average of .737 on the year.
The Uruguay National Team member earns his fourth individual honor this season after a tremendous performance at the MLS is Back Tournament where he also won the Golden Boot presented by Audi with seven goals scored. Rossi was also named the MLS is Back Young Player of the Tournament presented by AT&T5 5G and to the tournament Best XI presented by BODYARMOR.

  • Highlights of Rossi’s Golden Boot season can be found here.
  • Soundbyte reactions of Rossi capturing the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi will be uploaded following tonight’s match here.
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Rossi becomes the youngest player to lead the league in goals scored, besting Carlos Ruiz who led MLS with 24 goals in 2002 at 23 years old. That same year, before the Golden Boot was officially awarded, Taylor Twellman at age 22 was named the MLS Scoring Champion with the most points from combined goals and assists.
Through his prolific goalscoring efforts, Rossi has raised $20,000 for the LAFC Academy through the ‘Audi Goals Drive Progress’ program, a multi-year initiative launched by Audi and dedicated to expanding the breadth of academy resources through contributions toward player education, housing and transportation. The funds raised by Rossi – a $10,000 contribution for winning the Golden Boot and an additional $10,000 for winning the MLS is Back Tournament Golden Boot presented by Audi – 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.
“Since 2015, Audi has been proud to support MLS and its journey to showcase the best soccer talent in the world,” said Loren Angelo, vice president of Marketing, Audi of America. “We’re thrilled to congratulate Diego Rossi on his Golden Boot win, and look forward to both his continued success on the pitch, but also the success of the ‘Audi Goals Drive Progress’ program and its pursuit to grow the sport of soccer in America.”
Rossi helped LAFC to a league-leading 47 goals scored in the regular season this year, with their 2.13 goals-per-game average standing as the seventh-most in league history.
Major League Soccer Golden Boot/Scoring Champion winners

SeasonPlayerTeamGoals/Points (G/A)
2020
Diego Rossi
Los Angeles Football Club
14 goals
2019
Carlos Vela
Los Angeles Football Club
34 goals
2018
Josef Martínez
Atlanta United
31 goals
2017
Nemanja Nikolić
Chicago Fire
24 goals
2016
Bradley Wright-Phillips
New York Red Bulls
24 goals
2015
Sebastian Giovinco
Toronto FC
22 goals
2014
Bradley Wright-Phillips
New York Red Bulls
27 goals
2013
Camilo Sanvezzo
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
22 goals
2012
Chris Wondolowski
San Jose Earthquakes
27 goals
2011
Dwayne De Rosario
D.C. United
16 goals
2010
Chris Wondolowski
San Jose Earthquakes
18 goals
2009
Jeff Cunningham
FC Dallas
17 goals
2008
Landon Donovan
Los Angeles Galaxy
20 goals
2007
Luciano Emílio
D.C. United
20 goals
2006
Jeff Cunningham
Real Salt Lake
16 goals
2005
Taylor Twellman
New England Revolution
17 goals
2004
Amado Guevara
MetroStars
30 (10g, 10a)
Pat Noonan
New England Revolution
30 (11g, 8 a)
(TOP 3: Amado Guevara, MetroStars (10g, 10a = 30 pts); Pat Noonan, New England Revolution (11g, 8a = 30 pts); Brian Ching, San Jose Earthquakes (12g, 4a = 28 pts) 
2003
Preki
Kansas City Wizards
41 (12g, 17a)
(TOP 3: Preki, Kansas City Wizards (12g, 17a = 41 pts); Carlos Ruiz, L.A. Galaxy (15g, 5a = 35 pts); Ante Razov, Chicago Fire (14g, 6a = 34 pts); Taylor Twellman, New England Revolution (15g, 4a = 34 pts) 
2002
Taylor Twellman
New England Revolution
52 (23g, 6a)
(TOP 3: Taylor Twellman, New England Revolution (23g, 6a = 52 pts); Carlos Ruiz, Los Angeles Galaxy (24g, 1a = 49 pts); Jeff Cunningham, Columbus Crew (16g, 5a = 37 pts) 
2001
Alex Pineda Chacón
Miami Fusion
47 (19g, 4a)
(TOP 3:  Alex Pineda Chacón, Miami Fusion (19g, 4a = 47 pts); Diego Serna, Miami Fusion, (15g, 15a = 45 pts); John Spencer, Colorado Rapids, (14g, 7a = 35 pts) 
2000
Mamadou Diallo
Tampa Bay Mutiny
56 (26g, 4a)
(TOP 3: Mamadou Diallo, Tampa Bay Mutiny (26g, 4a = 56 pts); Clint Mathis, Los Angeles/MetroStars, (16g, 14a = 46 pts); Ante Razov, Chicago Fire (18g, 6a = 42 pts); Diego Serna, Miami Fusion, (16g, 10a = 42 pts) 
1999
Jason Kreis
Dallas Burn
51 (18g, 15a)
(TOP 3: Jason Kreis, Dallas Burn (18g, 15a = 51 pts); Roy Lassiter, D.C. United, (18g, 11a = 47 pts); Ronald Cerritos, San Jose Clash (15g, 9a = 39 pts) 
1998
Stern John
Columbus Crew
57 (26g, 5a)
(TOP 3: Stern John, Columbus Crew (26g, 5a = 57 pts); Cobi Jones, Los Angeles Galaxy (19g, 13a = 51 pts); Welton, Los Angeles Galaxy (17g, 11a = 45 pts) 
1997
Preki
Kansas City Wizards
41 (12g, 17a)
(TOP 3: Preki, Kansas City Wizards (12g, 17a = 41 pts); Jaime Moreno, D.C. United, (16g, 8a = 40 pts); Raul Diaz Arce, D.C. United (15g, 6a = 36 pts) 
1996
Roy Lassiter
Tampa Bay Mutiny
58 (27g, 4a)
(TOP 3: Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay Mutiny (27g, 4a = 58 pts); Preki, Kansas City Wiz (18g, 13a = 49 pts); Eduardo Hurtado, Los Angeles Galaxy, (21g, 7a = 49 pts) 


* up to the 2004 season, the Scoring Champion was determined by total points, with a goal counting two points and assists counting as one. Beginning in 2005, the title was renamed the Golden Boot, and awarded to the leading goalscorer in the season. In case of a tie, the winner will be decided by the player with the most assists; if still tied, the winner will be the player with fewer minutes played.