Atlanta United star
The king makes history. On Wednesday, Atlanta United superstar Josef Martínez recorded a brace in his club’s 4-0 victory over FC Cincinnati. The game marked Martínez’s 100th regular-season game in Major League Soccer. A significant milestone on its own. But with 85 goals scored in the regular season, Martínez also has scored the most goals of any player in their first 100 games in MLS history.
“Six months ago, I didn’t think I’d play again,” Martínez said to MLSSoccer.com, reflecting on the fact that he missed almost the entire 2020 season with an ACL injury. “I have my own goal, and I love this team. You know that already. That’s my job. My job is that one. I’m a striker. My job is to score. I’m so happy here. I try to help my teammates, and I’m so happy because 85 goals is not easy.”
The milestone comes in a season in which both Atlanta and Martínez had a slow start. A slow start fuelled by the difficult relationship between the players and former head coach Gabriel Heinze. But with the Argentine star coach departed, Atlanta are back on track. The Five Stripes are back in the playoff picture, and Martínez has scored six of his eight goals this season.
Josef Martínez 1st – The most MLS goals after the first 100 games
Jozy Altidore | 45 goals after 100 games | For New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC
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Conor Casey | 46 goals after 100 games | All for Colorado Rapids
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Giovanni Savarese | 47 goals after 100 games | MetroStars and New England
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Fanendo Adi | 47 goals after 100 games | All for Portland Timbers
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Ola Kamara | 52 goals after 100 games | For Columbus Crew and LA Galaxy
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Ignacio Piatti | 52 goals after 100 games | All for Montreal Impact
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Diego Serna | 52 goals after 100 games | For Miami Fusion & MetroStars
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Álvaro Saborío | 53 goals after 100 games | All for Real Salt Lake City
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Jaime Moreno | 54 goals after 100 games | All for D.C. United
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Juan Pablo Ángel | 58 goals after 100 games | All for New York Red Bulls
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Sebastian Giovinco | 59 goals after 100 games | All for Toronto FC
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Raúl Díaz Arce | 60 goals after 100 games | For MetroStars, New England & San Jose Clash
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Bradley Wright-Philips | 61 goals after 100 games | All for New York Red Bulls
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Taylor Twellman | 64 goals after 100 games | All for New England Revolution
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Robbie Keane | 66 goals after 100 games | All for LA Galaxy
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Carlos Ruiz | 67 goals after 100 games | For LA Galaxy and FC Dallas
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David Villa | 67 goals after 100 games | All for New York City FC
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Roy Lassiter | 69 goals after 100 games | For Tampa Bay Mutiny and D.C. United
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Josef Martínez | 85 goals after 100 games | All for Atlanta United
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85 goals in 100 games – Martínez ahead of Villa, Keane, Wright-Phillips & Co.
Eight goals in 16 games this season and 85 goals in 100 MLS games overall. A record that significantly overshadows the 69 goals that second-placed Roy Lassiter scored in his first 100 games for the Tampa Bay Mutiny and D.C. United. Other stars were also left in the dust. Former New York City FC star David Villa is third with 67 goals in his first 100 games. Los Angeles Galaxy star Robbie Keane ranks fourth with 66—the same amount as Carlos Ruiz. One of the best scorers in league history, Bradley Wright-Phillips, scored just 61 goals in his first 100 games for New York Red Bulls—enough for sixth place.
And Martínez? The Venezuelan forward has ambitious goals until the end of the season. The striker wants to score 100 goals until the end of the regular season—ten games to score 15 goals or 1.5 goals per game. Only 11 players have managed 100 goals in MLS history, and the fastest was Wright-Phillips, who reached the goal after 159 games. This season or not, Martínez could certainly break Wright-Phillips’ record.
Without Rossi – The 25 most valuable MLS players
25 Ayo Akinola | $5.5 million | Toronto FC
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24 Cole Bassett | $5.5 million | Colorado Rapids
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23 Efraín Álvarez | $5.5 million | Los Angeles Galaxy
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22 Gustavo Bou | $6.6 million | New England Revolution
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21 Jonathan Osorio | $6.6 million | Toronto FC
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20 Mark-Anthony Kaye | $6.6 million | Colorado Rapids
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19 Hany Mukhtar | $6.6 million | Nashville SC
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18 Marcelino Moreno | $6.6 million | Atlanta United
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17 Santiago Sosa | $6.6 million | Atlanta United
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16 Brian Rodríguez | $6.6 million | Los Angeles FC
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15 Victor Wanyama | $7.15 million | Montreal Impact
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14 Rodolfo Pizarro | $7.7 million | Inter Miami CF
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13 Tajon Buchanan | $7.7 million | New England Revolution
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12 Carlos Vela | $8.8 million | Los Angeles FC
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11 Raúl Ruidíaz | $8.8 million | Seattle Sounders
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10 Yeferson Soteldo | $8.8 million | Toronto FC
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9 Talles Magno | $8.8 million | New York City FC
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8 Alan Pulido | $9.9 million | Sporting Kansas City
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7 Brenner | $9.9 million | FC Cincinnati
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6 Alejandro Pozuelo | $11 million | Toronto FC
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5 Lucas Zelarayán | $11 million | Columbus Crew
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4 Emanuel Reynoso | $11 million | Minnesota United
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3 Ezequiel Barco | $11 million | Atlanta United
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2 Daryl Dike | $11 million | Orlando City FC
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1 Josef Martínez | $13.75 million | Atlanta United
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