The 2020 MLS season was anything but regular and there were far less games played than is normally the case.
That still did not stop players from producing a healthy dose of stunning golazos.
The latest MLS campaign came to a close just a few weeks ago, and the end of the season punctuated an unusual year that saw plenty of spectacular finishes despite the impact that COVID-19 had on the league. Be it sizzling free kicks, stunning solo efforts, jaw-dropping volleys or even an olimpico, 2020 had no shortage of impressive goals.
SBI has sifted through the hundreds of tallies that were scored, including in the MLS is Back Tournament, and has come up with a top 20 list for the year. The criteria used for the goals that made the cut consisted of a several factors, including overall aesthetics to power and placement to uniqueness, to game context, and, of course, degree of difficulty.
Here are the Top 20 MLS Goals of 2020, as chosen by the SBI Editorial Staff:
20. Carlos Vela vs. Philadelphia Union, March 8
Carlos Vela's magnificent free kick π
That's 12 home games in a row with a goal π€―pic.twitter.com/i1TIIFx3bJ
— Goal (@goal) March 9, 2020
19. Andy Polo vs. LA Galaxy, Oct. 28
Goodness gracious, Andy Polo.#PORvLA $RCTID pic.twitter.com/ScLKYzZz4f
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) October 29, 2020
18. Alexander Ring vs. New York Red Bulls, November 1
STEP RIGHT UP! πͺπ
Alexander Ring has us in front at Yankee Stadium with this π₯π₯ #NYCFC pic.twitter.com/JqNcISzLJt
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) November 2, 2020
17. Mark McKenzie vs. D.C. United, Oct. 15
π₯πππ₯πππππΌππ₯#DOOP | @markmckenzie4_ | @mls pic.twitter.com/czxfNKrsfS
— PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) October 15, 2020
16. Oswaldo Alanis vs. Toronto FC, Feb. 29
OMG! WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! π±
Oswaldo Alanis found the equalizer for @SJEarthquakes laaate in stoppage time. #SJvTOR pic.twitter.com/hZNAfEJAYT
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 1, 2020
15. Gonzalo Higuain vs. Red Bulls, Oct. 7
π± OMG GONZALO HIGUAIN! π±
Pipita's first MLS GOAL comes off a rocket of a free kick! #RBNYvMIA pic.twitter.com/aPp2C3EZfn
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 8, 2020
14. Nani vs. Minnesota United, Aug. 6
QuΓ© golazo de Luis Nani π₯ππ»β½οΈ pic.twitter.com/FF4nIxp7Yp
— Sergio Dipp (@SergioADippW) August 7, 2020
13. Lucas Zelarayan vs. FC Cincinnati, July 11
ZELARAYAN! What a free kick. β‘οΈ #CINvCLB pic.twitter.com/Wy4OPJp6aY
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 12, 2020
12. Haris Medunjanin vs. New York Red Bulls, Sept. 19
O L I M P I C O! What a goal from Haris Medunjanin!#AllForCincy #RBNYvCIN pic.twitter.com/YPOqViPyHt
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) September 20, 2020
11. Hassani Dotson vs. FC Dallas, August 9
did you know…
…Hassani ONLY scores bangers
Vote @mls Goal of the Week Β» https://t.co/ncwl7g3WxC pic.twitter.com/SN6qyfJwPo
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) August 12, 2019
10. Ali Adnan vs. San Jose Earthquakes, Nov. 5
π 32 yards out
βοΈ 100 km/hAli Adnan's spectacular free kick versus San Jose Earthquakes is your 2020 #VWFC @BMO Goal of the Year, as voted by the fans π pic.twitter.com/uVpHEUGrX1
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 6, 2020
9. Nicolas Lodeiro vs. LAFC, Oct. 11
Lodeiro had the keeper like ποΈπ ποΈ pic.twitter.com/lhjtOt66Et
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 12, 2020
8.Β Andy Polo vs. New York City FC, Aug. 2
The Complete Look
Every angle you could possibly want of Andy Polo's golazo against NYCFC #RCTID pic.twitter.com/LEvutnpjP7
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 4, 2020
7. Sebastian Lletget vs. LAFC, Sept. 7
Β‘Goooooooooooooool del @lagalaxy!
Golazo golazo golaaaaazo espectacular de chilena de Lletget. π±π@LAGalaxy_Es 3-0 @SomosLAFC #LAGalaxy | #LAFC | #MLS
π΄ En vivo
πΊ TUDN
π² SΓguelo aquΓ π https://t.co/csV7oS4RcM pic.twitter.com/njE4rxPGPn— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) September 7, 2020
6. Andres Ricaurte vs. Houston Dynamo Sept. 12
Is there any better way to introduce yourself than this?
Ricaurte, take a bow sir. π©π©π© pic.twitter.com/lar8skvP19
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) September 13, 2020
5. Richie Laryea vs. Columbus Crew, Sept. 27
This Richie Laryea goal, though!!! π±π±π± pic.twitter.com/FMk5V4znFV
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 28, 2020
4. Erik Hurtado vs. Nashville SC, Oct. 11
ARE YOU KIDDING ME, ERIK?! #SKCvNSH 2-1 pic.twitter.com/PcKO4iC18B
— x – Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) October 12, 2020
3. Carlos Vela vs. Inter Miami, March 1
Birthday boy Carlos Vela welcomes Inter Miami to @MLS π#LAFCvMIApic.twitter.com/QnL090a5Ua
— Yahoo Soccer (@FCYahoo) March 1, 2020
2. Darlington Nagbe vs. Chicago Fire, Aug. 20
Darlington Nagbe with the GOLAZO!! βοΈ
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) August 21, 2020
1. Jakob Glesnes vs. LAFC, March 8
Remember this absolute BEAUT from Jakob Glesnes? π
Check out some of the least likely MLS goals so far in 2020: https://t.co/Keyz5kdFti pic.twitter.com/sbRTR5kxHN
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 28, 2020
Interesting that 6 of the 20 goals were allowed by the Red Bulls and LAFC, 3 each. The other 24 teams allowed only 14 in total, no other team allowed more than 1.
Thanks for this, always fun to see great goals. My only quibble is that the one from Dotson is rated too highly because the defending was pretty non-existent.So many great ones, hard to choose a favorite.