In the leadup to the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, MLSsoccer.com will celebrate Major League Soccer's 20th season with a series of articles and videos about the first two decades of the league's history. This is a look at some of the records that have been set over the league's first 20 seasons.
Most Goals, Career: 144, Landon Donovan
In 14 seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy, Donovan averaged 10.3 goals per year. He broke Jaime Moreno's previous record of 134 on May 25, 2014 against the Philadelphia Union.
Fastest Goal: 8 seconds, Tim Cahill
The Australian soccer legend scored the fastest goal in MLS history on October 20, 2013 when he volleyed one home from just outside the box just eight seconds after the opening whiste for the New York Red Bulls against the Houston Dynamo. Cahill scored 14 goals in 62 games for the Red Bulls over three seasons.
Most Goals, Game: 5, Clint Mathis
August 26, 2000 was a special day for Clint Mathis. He scored five goals for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars against the Dallas Burn, leading his team to a 6-4 victory. Mathis played for four different teams over 12 seasons in MLS, scoring 61 goals and assisting on 51 others.
Most Times Offsides, Season: 82, Mamadou Diallo
"Big Mama" was always known for playing off the opposition's back shoulder. In 2000 he did that to perfection with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, scoring 26 goals. He was also caught offsides 82 times that season, which is a record that stands to this date.
Lowest Goals Against Average, Season: .62, Kevin Hartman
The 2010 season was in the middle of a downturn for goals in MLS and Hartman took advantage of it while playing for FC Dallas. He posted one of the best goalkeeping seasons of all-time, allowing just 12 goals in 20 games.
Fewest Shots on Goal for Winning Team: 0, Kansas City Wizards
On July 26, 1997, the Kansas City Wizards won a game without a single shot on goal. They are the only team ever to do so. They beat the New England Revolution in a penalty kick shootout 4-3. (Credit: Elias Sports)
Largest Deficit Overcome, Game: 3, New York/New Jersey MetroStars
Just four games into the inaugural 1996 season the MetroStars fell down to the Tampa Bay Mutiny 3-0. Fortunately for them, they had Giovanni Savarese. He scored two goals to lead the MetroStars to a 3-3 tie before heading into the shootout that ended with a Metros win.
Most Coaching Wins, Career: 217, Sigi Schmid
Sigi was the legendary coach of the UCLA Bruins before deciding to make his move to the professional ranks with the LA Galaxy in 1999. Since then he has won 217 games with the Galaxy, Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders. He took home MLS Cup titles in 2002 and 2008.
Youngest Player to Score a Goal: 14 years, 320 days, Freddy Adu
The first pick of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft didn't take long to his score his first professional goal, tallying in his third game with D.C. United. Adu recently returned to play in the United States, signing with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL.
Most Red Cards, Career: 9, Clint Mathis
Mathis comes up for a second time, but in this instance it's for a less flattering reason. The former US international was shown a staggering nine red cards throughout his MLS career.
Most Saves, Game: 15, Tony Meola
Generally it's not a good thing when your goalkeeper is forced into making 15 saves. That was true for the MetroStars on April 5, 1997 when Meola was forced into making 15 saves against D.C. United. The MetroStars lost the game 2-1 thanks to a 89th minute winner from Jaime Moreno.
Most Saves, Season: 184, Scott Garlick
Garlick spent 10 seasons in MLS, but his busiest season came in 2000 when made a total of 184 saves in 32 games for the Tampa Bay Mutiny. Garlick won a MLS Cup with D.C. United in 1997 and also played for the Colorado Rapids, Dallas Burn/FC Dallas, and Real Salt Lake.
Most Minutes Played by Outfield Player, Career: 33,143, Steve Ralston
The longtime leader in career MLS assists, who was only surpassed on Oct. 4, 2014, still holds the record for most minutes played by an outfield player in a MLS career. Ralston played for the Tampa Bay Mutiny and New England Revolution and was named to the MLS Best XI twice (1999, 2000).
Oldest Player to Play in a Game: 43 years, 80 days, Pat Onstad
The nine-year MLS veteran made his final appearance in the league with D.C. United on April 3, 2011. He previously led the Houston Dynamo to MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007.
Most Fouls Committed, Career: 552, Kyle Beckerman
Don't let the calm-and-cool attitude fool you, Beckerman is an absolute mad dog. Beckerman's 552 fouls committed is 70 more than any other player, and he will surely be extending his record over the next few seasons.
Most Shots, Career: 926, Ante Razov
Over his 13 seasons in MLS, Razov scored 114 goals, placing him fourth on the league's all-time scoring charts. He did this while taking 926 shots, 76 more than any other player in MLS history.
Most Goals as a Rookie: 11, Damani Ralph
The former Jamaican international scored 11 goals as a rookie in 2003 for the Chicago Fire. He followed that up with another 11 goals in 2004 before moving to Rubin Kazan in Russia. Ralph currently works as a player agent.
Most Goals as a Teenager: 22, Diego Fagundez
One of the youngest players to sign a MLS contract, Fagundez' teenage years were highlighted by a 13-goal 2013 season. The New England Revolution Homegrown player currently has two goals as a 20-year-old.
Fastest Goal after Entering Game: 18 seconds, Alvaro Saborio
After suffering a heartbreaking knee injury before the 2014 World Cup, Saborio made his first appearance for Real Salt Lake on September 5, 2014. Eighteen seconds after coming on, the Costa Rican scored (Note: This stat is only available starting from the 2001 season).
Most Assists, Season: 26, Carlos Valderrama
El Pibe is perhaps the most prolific creative force in MLS history. His best season came in 2000 when he collected an astonishing 26 assists. Over seven seasons in MLS, Valderrama assisted on an incredible 114 goals for an average of 16.3 assists per season.
