Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga has won the 2023 MLS Golden Boot after netting 20 goals for Los Angeles FC.
Bouanga, who also contributed seven assists, saw off FC the challenge from Cincinnati’s Luciano (17 goals) and Atlanta United’s Giorgos Giakoumakis (17 goals) to clinch the award.
Bouanga became the third Los Angeles FC player to clinch the award after the likes of Carlos Vera in 2019 and Diego Rossi in 2020.
Bouanga’s prolific goal-scoring run lifted Los Angeles FC to the 3rd spot in Western Conference MLS table. They will clash with Vancouver Whitecaps in a Round One Best-of-3 series as they hope to push through their attempt to defend the title.
Bouanga was also prolific for Los Angeles FC in other competitions away from MLS. He scored 13 goals in 11 games across Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup including four hat-tricks.
Denis Bouanga
Denis Bouanga is a Gabonese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer. He was born on November 11, 1994, in Saint-Étienne, France.
Bouanga began his career with FC Saint-Étienne, where he made his professional debut in 2014. He spent two seasons at Saint-Étienne before moving to Lorient in 2016. Bouanga scored 16 goals in two seasons at Lorient, which earned him a move to Nîmes Olympique in 2018.
Bouanga continued his good form at Nîmes, scoring 10 goals in his first season at the club. He helped Nîmes to win promotion to Ligue 1 in 2019. Bouanga scored 11 goals in his first season in Ligue 1, which made him one of the most sought-after players in France.
In August 2022, Bouanga signed for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC. He made his debut for LAFC on August 21, 2022, and scored his first goal for the club on September 11, 2022. Bouanga finished the 2022 MLS season with 8 goals and 4 assists in 17 appearances.
In 2023, Bouanga continued his good form, scoring 20 goals in 32 appearances for LAFC. He won the 2023 MLS Golden Boot, becoming the first Gabonese player to win the award.
Bouanga is a talented forward with a lot of potential. He is quick, strong, and has a good shot. He is also good at holding the ball up and bringing others into play. Bouanga is still developing, but he has the potential to be a top player in the future.
Bouanga is also an international footballer for Gabon. He made his international debut in 2014, and he has since gone on to score 10 goals in 45 appearances for his country. Bouanga was part of the Gabon squad that competed at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Denis Bouanga is a promising young player with a bright future ahead of him. He is already making a name for himself at Los Angeles FC, and he is sure to be one to watch in the years to come.
