Israeli Striker Tai Baribo Eyes 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, marking his return to the starting lineup after an injury. This brace, his first since a hat-trick in April, places him in contention for the Major League Soccer (MLS) Golden Boot award.

Baribo now has 14 goals this season, ranking him third in the league, just behind leaders Lionel Messi and Peter Musa. With ten games remaining in the season, Baribo, who has scored in six of his last seven appearances, is four goals behind Messi and has played one fewer game. Messi has not scored in his last two matches.

This is Baribo's third full season in MLS and his first with D.C. United, who signed him as a key player after his tenure with the Philadelphia Union, where he scored 16 goals last season. He has netted 14 goals in 18 games for D.C. United this year, averaging a goal every 103 minutes, a rate among the best in the league.

D.C. United has already surpassed its total points from last season, accumulating 28 points after 23 games compared to 26 points for the entire 2025 season when they finished last in the Eastern Conference. Baribo's previous team, Philadelphia Union, had 66 points in the previous regular season but only 30 in 24 games this current season.

Baribo has also outscored notable players like Luis Suárez (12 goals), Adama Traoré (8 goals), and Thomas Müller (7 goals), despite playing fewer games than them.