Josef Martínez Breaks Goalscoring Record

Josef Martínez is no stranger to scoring goals and breaking records. On Sunday, Josef did both as he scored once to help Atlanta United FC win 3-1 vs. Columbus Crew SC in Atlanta. This season has been one of the greatest I’ve ever seen from a goalscorer and has been the best season ever by an MLS striker (I won’t call it the best season ever by any player YET).

Atlanta United and their fans knew immediately the impact Josef Martínez would have in Atlanta, scoring 5 goals in his first 3 games. Atlanta immediately completed a permanent transfer to keep Josef in Atlanta for a long time. That was risky business by Atlanta but when he returned from injury, the questions about him were put to rest as he scored 14 more goals (1 goal per 90) to finish the season even challenging for the Golden Boot.

Expectations were very high this year with most expecting him to win the Golden Boot but Josef has done more than anyone expected, breaking multiple records. After netting his first MLS hat trick in his second ever game, Martínez only needed 42 games to net 6 hat tricks which broke the MLS hat trick record.

He has now broken another record as he scored against Columbus Crew on Sunday. With his first goal in the 27th minute, Martínez netted his 46th goal in his 2 seasons. That broke the record of 45 in 2 seasons by David Villa from 2016-17.

(Tap-in amirite?)

Most goals across two seasons:

Josef Martinez, 46, 2017-18
David Villa (NYCFC), 45, 2016-17
Stern John (Columbus), 44, 1998-99 & Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls), 44, 2014-15
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose), 43, 2011-12
Taylor Twellman (New England), 41, 2002-03, Raul Diaz Arce (D.C. United), 41, 1996-97, Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls), 41, 2016-17

He still has multiple records he can break this year. The most important is the single-season goalscoring record. Martínez only needs one goal to get to 28 goals this season and the good news is he has 9 games left to do that. Not only have his goals been important this year (16 of Josef’s last 20 goals have tied or given them the lead), he’s also been a Swiss army goalscorer scoring six goals with his right foot, six with his left, nine with his head, and six penalties.

MLS Single Season Goals Record

28 Josef Martínez (ATLUTD), 2018
27 Roy Lassiter (Tampa Bay), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose), & Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)
26 Stern John (Columbus), & Mamadou Diallo (Tampa Bay)
24 Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles), Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls), & Nemanja Nikolic (Chicago)
23 Raul Diaz Arce (D.C. United), Taylor Twellman (New England), & David Villa (NYCFC)
Camilo Sanvezzo (Vancouver), Dom Dwyer (Sporting KC), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto), Kei Kamara (Columbus), & David Villa (NYCFC), 2017

Josef Martínez has also scored a goal in eight consecutive games. If he were to score against Orlando City (which he has done five times), he could tie Diego Valeri’s record of 9 straight games with a goal.