How Many Goals did David Beckham Score in MLS?

How Many Goals did David Beckham Score in MLS?

Beckham stunned soccer when he joined LA Galaxy in 2007. He was playing with Real Madrid at the time, but at 32, he felt it was time for a complete change of scenery in his career.

He spent six seasons with LA Galaxy, and it was his final season with it that was the most memorable. The Galaxy was already the MLS Cup champions after a victory in 2011, and another triumph in 2012 saw Beckham score eight goals in 31 matches - this was his best goals-to-game ratio from all six seasons in MLS.

Beckham would play 118 times for LA Galaxy and score 20 goals. The former England captain was famous for his magical free kicks. He still holds the record for most free kick conversions in Premier League history, despite leaving that competition 20 years ago. 

Of the 20 goals Beckham scored for the Galaxy, 18 came in MLS, with seven from free kicks. This puts Beckham behind only Sebastian Giovinco, Jeff Larentowicz and Javier Morales for the most free-kick goals in MLS history.

Beckham's first MLS goal came in the semifinals of the MLS Cup against D.C. United, and of course, it was a free kick. The former Galaxy superstar would go on to score five more goals that season which included a stunning 70-yard goal that remains one of the greatest goals ever witnessed in MLS.

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After struggling with injury in 2009 and falling out of the England team, Beckham went on to score just two goals for the Galaxy, and two goals each year for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, too.

The two-time MLS Cup winner also managed to score directly from a corner against Chicago Fire in 2011 to win the game not long after also assisting the first Galaxy goal of the match. This was his 11th goal in MLS.

Beckham only scored two goals in a game on two different occasions. The first came when he got his second MLS free kick goal against Real Salt Lake, as he managed to score twice inside four minutes. His second double came in a 5-3 win at Portland Timbers on another free kick goal and a sensational finish with his right foot from long range, as both goals came within five minutes of each other.

The final season in MLS for Beckham was 2012, and it was during this season he secured another MLS Cup and scored seven MLS goals. 

His final goal came on a free kick against the Vancouver Whitecaps on matchday 27, and his efforts that year also saw him win the Best MLS Player for the second time at the ESPY Awards.

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Beckham’s Best MLS Goals

As just under half of Beckham’s goals were free kicks, the Englishman managed to rack up quite an impressive highlight reel in the U.S. 

Beckham’s second goal in MLS is one of his most underappreciated. Six games into his career with the Galaxy, the six-time Premier League winner curled in an effort against Salt Lake from an angle that only he could have scored from. 

Beckham’s shot initially looked like a cross, but his unrivaled ability to curl a soccer ball left goalkeeper Chris Seitz no chance of saving it. In that same game, the Galaxy’s former number 23 scored another fantastic free kick from distance.

As alluded to, the legendary soccer star also scored from 70 yards out against Kansas City Wizards, and this remains one of the most famous long-range goals in MLS history.

One of Beckham's best goals in MLS came against the Timbers in his 15th for the Galaxy. His effort came from a long-range curled effort with his famous right foot after he was given too much space by the Timbers’ defense. Beckham also scored another free kick in that game.