Israeli Striker Tai Baribo Challenges Messi in MLS Golden Boot Race

Israeli national team striker Tai Baribo scored two goals in D.C. United's 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew on Wednesday night. This brace, his first since a hat-trick in April, brings his season total to 14 goals in 18 games, placing him third in the Major League Soccer (MLS) scoring race. Baribo is now four goals behind league leaders Lionel Messi and Peter Musa, with D.C. United having a game in hand.

With ten games remaining in the season, Baribo, who has scored in six of his last seven appearances, is emerging as a contender for the Golden Boot. Messi, meanwhile, has not scored in his last two matches. Baribo's current scoring rate of a goal every 103 minutes is among the best in the league.

This is Baribo's third full season in MLS and his first with D.C. United, who signed him as a key player after he scored 16 goals for the Philadelphia Union last season. His 14 goals this season already surpass those of prominent players like Luis Suárez (12 goals), Adama Traoré (8 goals), and Thomas Müller (7 goals), despite playing fewer games than them.

D.C. United has also seen an improvement in their overall performance, accumulating 28 points in 23 games this season, surpassing their total of 26 points from last year when they finished last in the Eastern Conference. In contrast, Philadelphia Union, Baribo's former team, has fewer points this season compared to their previous one.