For Immediate Release
MLS Communications
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Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 23 and 24
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Messi Making Magic for Miami
An eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and 2022 FIFA World Cup champion, Lionel Messi has continued to showcase his otherworldly talent in his third MLS season, recording 12 goals and seven assists in 14 regular season matches. The 2024 Landon Donovan MLS MVP has recorded at least two goals and one assist in each of his last three league matches and has the chance to make contributing history with another stellar performance this week.
With three goal contributions against the New England Revolution on Wednesday night (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Messi would become the first player in league history to record at least three goal contributions in four consecutive matches. Since his MLS debut on August 26, 2023, Messi has recorded nine games with at least three goal contributions, two more than the next-closest player over the span (Denis Bouanga, seven), and he is the only player in league history to have multiple streaks of at least three consecutive matches with three-or-more contributions.
The longest streaks of at least three goal contributions in MLS history:
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Mukhtar On Verge of Double-Double Milestone
Hany Mukhtar, the 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, continues to carve out his legendary status in league play and has been a key cog in Nashville SC’s current 12-game unbeaten run, which dates back to April 26. Mukhtar, who scored the game-winning goal in the club’s 1-0 victory over Philadelphia Union on Matchday 21, currently sits at nine goals and eight assists this season and is on the verge of joining an exclusive club of players with four seasons with at least 10 goals and 10 assists.
With a goal and two assists against Inter Miami CF on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / FS1 / FOX Deportes), Mukhtar would become the fifth player in league history to record at least 10 goals and 10 assists in four different seasons, joining Luciano Acosta, Jaime Moreno, Preki, and Diego Valeri. Since entering the league in 2020, Mukhtar (75) leads all goal scorers in MLS and outpaces the next-closest player by 12 (Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango, 63). The 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP also paces the league in goal contributions over the span with 130, 14 more than Luciano Acosta (116).
The players to record the most seasons with 10 goals and 10 assists in MLS history:
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Olsen Eyes 150 Wins
Following the club’s thrilling 4-3 road victory over San Diego FC on Matchday 22, Houston Dynamo FC head coach Ben Olsen finds himself one victory shy of a major coaching milestone. Olsen, who is in his third season in Houston, has compiled a 36-30-23 record with the Dynamo and can join an elite group of coaches with his next win.
With a victory at Real Salt Lake on Saturday (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Olsen would become the seventh coach in MLS history to reach 150 career regular season wins, joining Bruce Arena (269 wins), Sigi Schmid (240), Peter Vermes (203), Bob Bradley (194), Óscar Pareja (183), and Dominic Kinnear (170). The former United States Men’s National Team midfielder will look to continue leading the Dynamo up the Western Conference table, as the club currently sits just inside the postseason line in eighth place.
The MLS head coaches with at least 150 regular season wins:
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Joveljić Streaking for Sporting Kansas City
Unbeaten across its last three matches, Sporting Kansas City continues to battle for playoff positioning in the Western Conference table behind the standout play of striker Dejan Joveljić, who has at least one goal or assist in each of his last seven matches in league play. Acquired from the LA Galaxy in a cash-for-player trade prior to the start of the season, Joveljić has been stellar for Sporting KC, leading the club with 12 goals in 19 matches, including seven across his last seven games.
With a goal or an assist against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), the Serbian striker would tie Diego Rubio (eight in 2018) for the second-longest goal contribution streak in club history. Only Johnny Russell has had a longer streak for Sporting Kansas City, contributing in 10 consecutive games from Sept. 11 to Nov. 3, 2021.
The longest goal contribution streaks in Sporting Kansas City history:
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Charlotte’s Biel Closing in on Club History
In his second stint with Charlotte FC, midfielder Pep Biel has orchestrated one of the most productive seasons in the club’s brief history, recording seven goals and nine assists in 20 regular season matches in 2025. The Spainard, who recently had his loan extended through the end of the 2025 season, has recorded a goal and an assist in both of his last two matches.
With a goal contribution against New York City FC on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Biel would surpass Karol Świderski (16 goal contributions in both 2022 and 2023) for the most single-season goal contributions in Charlotte FC history. Biel, who has already matched the club record in only 20 games this season, has at least one contribution in all eight of Charlotte’s wins this season.
The most single-season goal contributions in Charlotte FC history:
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| For real-time notes and information, follow the MLS Communications department @MLS_PR on Twitter/X, @mlscommunications on Instagram, and MLS Communications on Bluesky, and visit MLSsoccer.com/Media-Resources.
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