Kamara on course to leapfrog Donovan from second place in MLS All-Time top goals chart

Kei Kamara’s brace against Minnesota United FC on Saturday night has earned him the advantage to overtake Landon Donovan in the Major League Soccer All Time top goal scorer chart.

Kamara scored twice to help Chicago Fire FC secured its first home win of the 2023 season with a 2-1 victory over Minnesota United FC, at Soldier Field.

The two goals increased his career tally of MLS regular-season goals to 142, remaining third on the league’s all-time scoring list and moving just three behind Landon Donovan (145).

Donovan who is a legend of the USA men’s national team is placed in second position on the chart after last playing for the LA Galaxy in 2016. 

Speaking to MLS.com after the match, Kamara said: “I knew their backline, they’re strong. I knew that I have to be a body, an outlet for the guys when the ball comes forward I have to hold it, lay it off. And just be a problem for as much as I can do during the game.”

Now in his 18th MLS season, Kamara, after a trade from CF Montréal in February, is helping spark a club that last made the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in 2017. They’re up to sixth place in the Eastern Conference after Matchday 7 results, and head coach Ezra Hendrickson is quick to credit Kamara for his role in their early fortunes.

“He’s a leader, man,” Hendrickson remarked. “He’s in the locker room. He’s been enormous for us. We have a fairly young group. They call him ‘grandpa’, ’cause most of these guys are 19, 20. But he’s always there… He’s been a great addition to the team, beyond just his goalscoring. What he does in the locker room and on the pitch, as far as leading the team, has been very tremendous for us.”

Kamara and this Chicago Fire group are hungry to continue building momentum and get back to the playoffs. Whatever his role in the team, Kamara is ready as they play against Philadelphia Union at home in their next fixture.