Golden Boot race: How the 2020 field looks as the MLS regular season winds down

The race for the 2020 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi is heading into Decision Day presented by AT&T with the big question being can anyone catch Diego Rossi? 

A reminder on the tiebreakers heading into the final matchday: If players are tied on total goals, the Golden Boot will go to the player with the most assists. If players are tied on goals and assists, the next tiebreaker is highest goals per 90 minutes (or in other words, fewest minutes played).

The Leader: Diego Rossi

It seems likely an LAFC attacking player will take the Golden Boot for a second straight season, but we're not about to call the race.

Rossi scored his 14th goal of the regular season, a stoppage-time strike Wednesday night in a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes and he's got a three-goal lead over his nearest challengers. 

The Challengers

Columbus Crew SC striker Gyasi Zardes, Chicago Fire FC forward Robert Beric and Seattle Sounders forward Raul Ruidiaz are behind him with 11 goals apiece.

Zardes hasn't scored since Oct. 18 as he's worked his way back from a minor knee injury that sidelined him for two games. Columbus face Atlanta United on Decision Day (3:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info). Zardes' only regular season hat trick came on Decision Day in 2018 against Minnesota United. He hasn't scored more than three goals in a regular season game. 

Beric is the more in-form scorer with four goals in Chicago's last five games, including one in a 2-2 draw against the Loons Wednesday night at Allianz Field and the Fire arguably have more to play for on Decision Day, needing a win over NYCFC to secure a berth in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs. But NYCFC aren't likely to roll over, with the Cityzens still eying a top-four finish in the East. And Beric hasn't scored more than one goal in a game yet this season.

Ruidiaz's dramatic stoppage-time equalizer in the Seattle Sounders' 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy not only eliminated the Galaxy from playoff contention, but also moved the Peruvian international into a three-way tie in the Golden Boot race. The Sounders close out at home against San Jose, a team that's been known to ship goals on occasion this season although they've tightened things up of late.

Here's where things stand:

Golden Boot leaders

Rank
Name
Club
Goals
1Diego RossiLAFC14T-2Gyasi ZardesColumbus Crew SC11T-2Robert BericChicago Fire FC11T-2Raul RuidiazSeattle Sounders11T-5Cristian PavonLA Galaxy10T-5Chris MuellerOrlando City SC10