Kei Kamara has firmly etched his name into Major League Soccer (MLS) history as his historic goal moved him past Landon Donovan to become the league’s second-leading goal scorer with 146 goals.
Saturday night was a special night for Kamara, who, while playing for Los Angeles FC, scored a powerful header in iconic fashion in a 6-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes, mirroring his record-tying goal three days earlier.
Follow MLS Multiplex on Twitter: X
“I hope this makes a lot of people happy. I think my friends and family are really happy because over the years they’ve been counting my goals and sending me messages. I know how happy they are,” an emotional Kamara said after the match.
This is no easy task. It’s not easy to surpass Landon Donovan, widely considered the greatest American soccer player of all time. Donovan is more than a name, he’s an icon in American soccer. Having his name mentioned alongside Donovan is well-deserved recognition for Kamara, who has always shown respect for the accomplishments of his predecessors. “Landon is the greatest American soccer player of all time. It’s an honor to be mentioned alongside him,” Kamara added.
But the story doesn’t end there. At 39, Kamara has proven he still has plenty of football to offer. He’s just 25 goals shy of MLS’ all-time leading scorer, Chris Wondolowski. Though humble and respectful of his friend, Kamara knows the record is within reach. “I don’t want to pass Wondo!” he laughs.
Having played for 11 MLS teams, Kamara seems to reinforce his status as a living legend of the league with every goal, every game. His size and ability to score at crucial moments are testament to his longevity. Kamara also proves that experience and wisdom matter.
It’s safe to say that Kamara, brimming with confidence and playing for a powerhouse like LAFC, could easily overtake Wondolowski — a possibility he doesn’t like to talk about.
