NEW YORK --
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan claimed the 2008 Budweiser Golden Boot awarded to the League's leading goal scorer during the regular season, after scoring a career high 20 goals. Donovan became the sixth player in Major League Soccer history to score 20 or more goals in a season and only the second to do so in the past six seasons.
Donovan entered the final game of the season facing FC Dallas and his nearest competitor, FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper (18 goals). Donovan tallied one goal in the Galaxy's 2-2 tie versus FC Dallas on Sunday afternoon. He finished the season two goals ahead of Cooper and five ahead of teammate Edson Buddle. His 20-goal total surpassed his previous career high of 12 goals, which he accomplished three times previously in eight MLS seasons.
Donovan played in 25 of the Galaxy's 30 games and recorded two hat tricks on the way to 20 goals. He recorded nine assists to go with his 20 goals and will finish in the top 10 in assists. His 2008 goal total matched last season's Budweiser Golden Boot winner, D.C. United forward Luciano Emilio, who went on to claim the League's 2007 Most Valuable Player award.
Donovan led the League in multiple-goal games with six this season, two more than Cooper. The Galaxy finished as the top-scoring team in the League with 55 goals scored, five more than the Columbus Crew who defeated D.C. United 1-0 in the final regular season game of the season tonight. Donovan contributed to the League's top-ranked offense with five consecutive games with a goal or an assist, two hat tricks, and three game-winning assists. Donovan claimed MLS Player of the Week honors four times this season and was named April's Player of the Month. With 84 career goals, Donovan ranks seventh on the League's all-time goal scoring list.
Donovan is a three-time MLS Cup winner and earned MLS Cup MVP honors in 2003. He has twice been named U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year and is a four-time winner of the Honda Player of the Year award.
Top Goal Scorers in Each Season:
2008: 20 goals - Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
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)
