MLS's greatest scoring race ever heats up

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Sep 22, 2017

David Villa still leads the race with Nemanja Nikolic tied for second, but only two goals separate the top five scorers.

The favorite? Atlanta United's Martinez is the hottest player with eight goals in his last four games and the most games to play of the top five scorers, though one of his six games will be played during the FIFA international break when he might be away on national team duty with Venezuela.

If the same 10 players finish in the top 10 it will mark the second season in a row that none of the MLS's top 10 scorers was an American.

1. David Villa, NYCFC (19 goals in 26 games)
Notable: 60 goals over the last three seasons are the most by an MLS player ahead Wright-Phillips (56) and Giovinco (54).
Recent Form: 1 goal in last 5 games (played 18 minutes in last three games).
Remaining Games (5): HOU/@MTL/@CHI/@NE/CLB.



2. Diego Valeri, Portland (18 goals in 28 games)
Notable: Goals in his last eight games set an MLS record for most games with at least one goal.
Recent Form: 5 goals in last 5 games.
Remaining Games (4): ORL/@SJ/DC/VAN.

2. Nemanja Nikolic, Chicago (18 goals in 29 games)
Notable: At one point on course to challenge the league record of 27 goals in a season. Goals in his last two games ended a string of nine games without a goal.
Recent Form: 2 goals in last 5 games.
Remaining Games (5): @PHI/@SJ/NYC/PHI/@HOU.

4. Josef Martinez, Atlanta United (17 goals in 15 games)
Notable: Tied MLS record with back-to-back hat tricks against New England and Orlando City.
Recent Form: 8 goals in last 5 games.
Remaining Games (6): MTL/PHI/@NE/*MIN/@NY/TOR.
*During FIFA international window.



4. Ignacio Piatti, Montreal (17 goals in 24 games)
Notable: Two goals in 5-3 win at Toronto FC gave him five multi-goal games in last four months.
Recent Form: 3 goals in last 5 games.
Remaining Games (5): @ATL/NYC/@COL/@TOR/NE.



6. Ola Kamara, Columbus (16 goals in 30 games)
Notable: Goals in his last four games gave him 16 goals, tying 2016 total.
Recent Form: 4 goals in last 5 games.
Remaining Games (4): NY/DC/@ORL/@NYC.

7. Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC (15 goals in 23 games)
Notable: 54 goals in three seasons are almost twice as many as any other TFC player has scored in his career.
Recent Form: 3 goals in last 5 games (sat out last 2 games).
Remaining Games (4): @NE/NY/MTL/@ATL.



7. Bradley Wright-Phillips, NY Red Bulls (15 goals in 27 games)
Notable: 83 goals in last four years are the most in a four-year period by an MLS player.
Recent Form: 1 goal in last 5 games (sat out 1 game)
Remaining Games (6): @CLB/DC/@TOR/*VAN/ATL/@DC.
*During FIFA international window.

9. David Accam, Chicago (14 goals in 26 games)
Notable: 14 goals are the most for the Fire in his three MLS seasons.
Recent Form: 2 goals in last 5 games (sat out 1 game)
Remaining Games (5): @PHI/@SJ/NYC/PHI/@HOU.

9. Erick Torres, Houston (14 goals in 24 games)
Notable: 14 goals come after he failed to score in 22 goals over 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Recent Form: 2 goals in last 5 games (sat out 1 game)
Remaining Games (6): @NYC/LA/*MIN/SKC/@SKC/CHI.
*Day after FIFA international window closes.