The soccer scene is buzzing, and at the heart of it all is LAFC’s dynamo, Dénis Bouanga. With a whopping 20 goals to his name this season, he’s proudly donned the MLS Golden Boot crown for 2023. And boy, did he finish with flair! Bouanga lit up the pitch, netting six of those goals in just his final three matches.
His prowess places him alongside LAFC’s finest – Diego Rossi of 2020 and Carlos Vela from 2019. Remarkably, LAFC stands out as the only club to celebrate three individual players snatching the award within a span of five seasons. A similar streak was once seen with the New England Revolution, but LAFC’s is uniquely its own.
Making this win even sweeter? Bouanga has etched history as the first-ever Gabonese player to clinch this title. It’s a testament to MLS’s global appeal, having crowned Golden Boot winners from a diverse pool of 12 nationalities over the last 13 years.
But Dénis’s impact isn’t restricted to his on-field heroics. He’s been a beacon for youth soccer development, thanks to the ‘Audi Goals Drive Progress’ initiative. Every goal he’s scored has channeled funds into MLS academies, summing up to a generous $29,000. That includes an additional bounty of $25,000 for the LAFC academy on account of his Golden Boot triumph.
Reflecting on this initiative, Adam Perez of Audi of America shared, “We’re excited to team up with MLS in championing the next wave of soccer stars. A big shout-out to Dénis Bouanga for his stellar season. We’re all in for fostering soccer talent, on and off the field, with our ‘Audi Goals Drive Progress’ mission.”
Now, with LAFC comfortably perched third in the Western Conference, anticipation is building for the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. Can they clinch back-to-back MLS Cups? The stage is set, and soccer aficionados are eagerly awaiting a riveting playoff showdown.