2023 MLS Next Pro Golden Boot: 3-Way Tie!
The 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot race ended in a historic three-way tie between RĂ©mi Cabral of Colorado Rapids 2, Jack Lynn of Orlando City B, and MD Myers of NYCFC II. All three players finished the season with an impressive 19 goals apiece.
How close was it? Lynn and Myers entered the final day of the regular season tied for the lead (18 goals) in the race for the scoring title, followed by Cabral and Nick Firmino of Atlanta United 2 with 16 goals each. With all Eastern Conference matches kicking off at 2:00 p.m. ET, Lynn and Myers each scored a goal and seemed to pull away with their share of the Golden Boot before the Western Conference matches began at 5:00 p.m. ET.
However, Cabral found his 10th gear, scoring three times in a 22-minute span in the second half of Colorado’s 4-2 win over MNUFC2 to finish the season with 19 goals and capture a share of the Golden Boot. Cabral’s hat trick in the second half of his match helped him pull even with Lynn and Myers, allowing all three to share the coveted MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot!
As you can imagine, all three players have been instrumental in their teams’ success throughout the 2023 season.
Lynn has been a key figure for Orlando City B, leading the Lions to clinch their first MLS NEXT Pro playoff berth and finish in the No. 5 seed. He surpassed his scoring mark from the 2022 season, in which he finished third in the Golden Boot standings with 15 goals.
Myers has been a sensation force for NYCFC II. He was Co-Player of the Month in August after a stretch of six goals in three games, including a hat trick against Inter Miami II, and also holds five assists.
Cabral has been vital for the Colorado Rapids 2 offense in 2023, propelling the Rapids to clinch the Frontier Division title, No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and No. 1 overall seed with the League’s best record (19-4-5, 66 points). Cabral’s goal-scoring prowess proved invaluable for Rapids 2, enabling a stark turnaround from the 2022 season’s record of 7-11-6 (31 points).
Lynn, Myers, and Cabral have all made their mark in MLS NEXT Pro history, with Lynn leading the league as the all-time leading scorer with 34 total goals since the start of the inaugural season in 2022. Myers and Cabral join him on the list of all-time scorers, tying for fourth in League history with two others.
What is the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot?
The MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot is an annual award given to the player who scores the most goals during the MLS NEXT Pro regular season. The award is highly coveted and is a testament to a player’s scoring ability and consistency throughout the season.
In 2022, we witnessed Columbus Crew 2 forward Jacen Russell-Rowe be crowned the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Book with 21 goals. Jacen was subsequently promoted to the Columbus Crew first team where he will look to continue his success.
The Golden Boot is a major individual achievement in the MLS NEXT Pro league and is often a reflection of a player’s impact on their team’s success. It is also a testament to the quality of the league and the talent of the players who compete in it.
Winning the Golden Boot not only provides recognition to the player’s scoring abilities but it also gets their names out for future professional opportunities within MLS or overseas.
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