90min
·23 October 2024
90min
·23 October 2024
No one managed to outscore D.C. United striker Christian Benteke throughout the 2024 MLS regular season.
The 33-year-old tallied 23 goals to claim the 2024 Golden Boot award, denying LAFC's Denis Bouanga the chance to win the award for the second-straight year while Inter Miami's Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez made a late push for the top goalscoring award.
Although D.C. came up just short in its quest to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs, Benteke's 2024 goal catalogue is still something to admire as the team plans ahead for the 2025 season.
Here are the five best goals from the 2024 Golden Boot winner.
Benteke was involved in D.C.'s equalizing strike against Atlanta United early on, pulling defenders out of position before finishing off the move in the six-yard box. It was a simple header in the end for Benteke, but he helped kickstart the move before finding the back of the net from close range with a classy finish.
Benteke started the 2024 season off in style in D.C's 3–1 home triumph over New England Revolution. The ex-Crystal Palace forward bagged a hat trick and capped off his impressive performance with a looping header that demonstrated just how strong he is in the air.
While D.C. were unable to complete the comeback in the 4–2 away defeat to CF Montréal, Benteke still gave his side a chance at winning with this clinical close-range finish. Benteke was calm and composed in front of goal to smash an effort into the roof of the the net, silencing the fans at Stade Saputo for the time being.
Benteke rose highest above the Seattle Sounders defenders with an electric bullet header to turn the match on its head in his team's favor. There was simply no stopping this effort from the former Belgium international.
Most of Benteke's goals from the regular season came from him inside the opponents' penalty area, reacting with a quick first-touch finish with either his right foot or his head. However, this goal was the exact opposite. Benteke had confidence flowing through him as he nutmegged a Minnesota United defender before sliding hit shot underneath the goalkeeper to help D.C. win on the road.