Brazilian Luciano Emilio is MLS's 2007 Goal King

• by Soccer America , Oct 24, 2007

Luciano Emilio, the Brazilian striker who joined D.C. United this season from CD Olimpia of Honduras, won the MLS regular-season scoring title with 20 goals, edging another first-year player, Colombian Juan Pablo Angel of New York by a goal. The highest scoring American in MLS this season was New England's Taylor Twellman. For final MLS scoring stats and MLS leading scorer history ...

Emilio is the first MLS player to reach the 20-goal mark in one season since 2002, when current FC Dallas forward Carlos Ruiz scored 24 goals for the Los Angeles Galaxy and Twellman scored 23 for New England.

Among Emilio's 20 goals were four gamewinners, which tied for third most in the League. He and Angel tied for the most multi-goal games this season with five apiece.

2007 MLS LEADING SCORERS
Player (team) GP G
Emilio (D.C. United) 29 20
Angel (New York) 24 19
Twellman (New England) 26 16
Johnson (Kansas City) 24 15
Galindo (Chivas USA) 28 12
Razov (Chivas USA) 26 11
Gomez (D.C. United) 27 10
Altidore (New York) 22 9
Donovan (Los Angeles) 25 8
Findley (Real Salt Lake) 25 8


MLS LEADING SCORER HISTORY
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)