NEW YORK – With 27 goals this season, San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski has claimed the 2012 Budweiser Golden Boot, award to Major League Soccer’s top goal scorer at the end of each regular season.
With the 2012 honor, Wondolowski becomes the only player in MLS history to score the most regular season goals in three consecutive seasons. During the past three years, the prolific attacker earned two Budweiser Golden Boots and matched last season’s Golden Boot winner Dwayne De Rosario’s 16 goals as well.
Among his 27 goals this season, Wondolowski contributed two hat tricks (against Real Salt Lake on July 14 and Colorado Rapids on October 6) and 11 game-winning goals.
His 27 goals tie Major League Soccer’s all-time single-season goal record. The record is shared with Roy Lassiter, who scored 27 goals in 1996 – the League’s inaugural season.
Since entering MLS in 2005, Wondolowski has recorded a total of 68 league goals, 64 of which came after moving from Houston to San Jose in the middle of the 2009 season. He ranks twentieth all-time in MLS goal scoring , 2 behind number 19 Cobi Jones, and 2 ahead of number 21 Kenny Cooper.
By the Numbers: Wondolowski vs. Lassiter
<strong>Stat</strong> |
<strong>Chris Wondolowski</strong> |
<strong>Roy Lassiter</strong> |
Seasons Played |
8 |
7 |
Games Played |
143 |
179 |
Goals |
68 |
88 |
Total Shots |
347 |
398 |
Average Minutes Per Game |
67 |
77 |
Goals Per 90 Minutes Played |
.64 |
.58 |
Shots Per 90 Minutes Played |
3.27 |
2.60 |
SOG Per 90 Minutes Played |
1.50 |
1.54 |
Percent Conversion Rate (Goals/Shots) |
19.6% |
22,1% |
Road Goals |
36 |
36 |
Top Goal Scorers in Each Season:
2012: 27 goals – Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
2011: 16 goals – Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)
2010: 18 goals – Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
2009: 17 goals – Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)
2008: 20 goals – Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
2007: 20 goals – Luciano Emilio (D.C. United)
2006: 16 goals – Jeff Cunningham (Real Salt Lake)
2005: 17 goals – Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
2004: 12 goals – Eddie Johnson (Dallas Burn); Brian Ching (San Jose Earthquakes)
2003: 15 goals – Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles Galaxy); Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
2002: 24 goals – Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles Galaxy)
2001: 19 goals – Alex Pineda Chacon (Miami Fusion)
2000: 26 goals – Mamadou Diallo (Tampa Bay Mutiny)
1999: 18 goals – Stern John (Columbus Crew); Roy Lassiter (D.C. United); Jason Kreis (Dallas Burn)
1998: 26 goals – Stern John (Columbus Crew)
1997: 16 goals – Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
1996: 27 goals – Roy Lassiter (Tampa Bay Mutiny)
