D.C. United Forward Christian Benteke Wins 2024 MLS Golden Boot

D.C. United forward Christian Benteke captured the 2024 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi after scoring a league-high 23 goals, besting the next-closest scorers in MLS by three goals. Benteke finished ahead of Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez (20 goals each), 2023 MLS Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga of LAFC (20 goals), and the Columbus Crew’s Cucho Hernández (19 goals) to earn the honor.

In his third MLS season, Benteke is now the third D.C. United player to win the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi, joining Dwayne De Rosario (16 goals in 2011) and Luciano Emilio (20 goals in 2007). The Belgian striker is the third player in club history to score at least 20 goals in a single season, joining Raúl Díaz Arce (23 in 1996) and Emilio. Of note is the 6-foot-3 forward’s aerial prowess, as Benteke’s nine goals from headers is tied for the second-highest single-season total since 2005.

Benteke scored in bunches this season, tying for the league lead and setting a single-season club record with six multi-goal games. He accounted for 44.23 percent of the club’s goals in 2024 – the highest mark in MLS this season – and was the only player to score at least 40 percent of his club’s goals this year. Since making his MLS debut on Aug. 31, 2022, only Denis Bouanga (41) has scored more goals than the Belgian.

After leading the club with 14 goals last season, Benteke became the eighth player in club history to record consecutive seasons with at least 10 goals and the first since Wayne Rooney in 2018-19. His 37 goals over a two-year span are the second-most in club history, behind only Díaz Arce, who scored 38 goals from 1996-97.

A two-time MLS All-Star selection, Benteke joined D.C. United in August 2022 after spending 10 seasons in the English Premier League with Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Crystal Palace from 2012-2022. In 280 Premier League appearances, the Belgian forward scored 86 goals and recorded 23 assists. Earlier this season, Benteke signed a contract extension with D.C. United through the end of the 2025 regular season with an option for 2026.

Benteke’s prolific goal-scoring efforts throughout the 2024 MLS regular season has contributed a total of $54,600 for MLS academies as part of the ‘Audi Goals Drive Progress’ program—a multi-year initiative focused on supporting young players in their endeavors to maintain excellence on the pitch and in the classroom. For each goal scored this season, Benteke contributed $200 to all MLS academies, while his MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi award secured an additional $50,000 contribution to the D.C. United academy. Since the program began in 2019, ‘Audi Goals Drive Progress’ has expanded the breadth of academy resources by contributing more than $5 million combined towards player education, housing, transportation and player-selected charity organizations.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate Christian Benteke as the 2024 MLS Golden Boot winner and to recognize his outstanding performance both on and off the field,” said Adam Perez, Brand Partnerships & Experience Senior Specialist at Audi of America. “Through the ‘Audi Goals Drive Progress’ initiative, every goal represents more than just a point on the scoreboard—it’s an investment in the future of soccer. Thanks to Benteke’s remarkable achievement, we’re able to further our commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent in MLS academies across the country.”

WRITTEN BY

Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the Founder of Futbol Chronicle and an accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every match report, player profile, and tactical analysis he writes.