MLS
Season Predictions: Who will lead the Union in goals scored?
Is there a clear target man on this Union team? It sure seems like a goal scoring by committee approach will be needed. We polled the PSN staff to get a collection of perspectives on this attacking group.
Jared Young – Milan Iloski
Last season’s leading goal scorer Tai Baribo is taking his deft touch south on 95, and Mikael Uhre has taken his 38 career Union goals to analytical powerhouse Midtylland. The Union have replaced that production with unknowns Ezekiel Allodah, Stas Korzeniowki, and attacker Agustin Anello. It certainly seems like a scoring-by-committee approach. Bruno Damiani is the veteran on the squad, but he’s not proven to be a lead volume scorer. He’s been complimentary to date. But I see Milan Iloski taking a more aggressive role in terms of shouldering the scoring burden. Last year he had to defer to a trio of shot-hungry forwards. No longer. The door is open for Milan to take charge, and the Union will need him to.
Owen Boyle – Milan Iloski
Whether he is playing up top, out wide, or as a No. 10, Milan Iloski is a natural goal scorer. Before joining the Union, Iloski was scoring at an insane rate for San Diego FC, with 10 goals in 14 appearances, including a brace and a four-goal game in back-to-back matches. Iloski scored four goals and had five assists in 14 appearances for the Union, a minimal drop off from his first half of the season, but encountered more attacking depth in Philadelphia. Now with Tai Baribo and Mikael Uhre gone, Iloski becomes the de facto veteran amongst a young group of strikers. However, with Kai Wagner gone and Quinn Sullivan out till the summer, Iloski might be thrust into more of a playmaking role, which could mean more assists than goals for the 26-year-old.
Evan Konigsberg – Milan Iloski
Milan Iloski was a hit signing for the Union last season, and I expect that to continue going into 2026. Deployed primarily as a winger in San Diego, Iloski’s goal scoring rate decreased after signing for the Union and being used as an attacking midfielder. This season, with more matches on the schedule due to CONCACAF Champions Cup qualification, I expect the Union’s front four to be a lot more fluid. Iloski will likely see time both as a striker and an attacking midfielder. He scored two goals from the striker position in the preseason match against Montréal, so he is more than capable of performing. Damiani is solid and Alladoh will likely need time to adjust, which points toward Iloski being the main goalscorer this season.
Evan Cohen – Ezekiel Alladoh
I want to take the more obvious pick here and go with Iloski, but I have a really good feeling about the Union’s new club record signing. Alladoh’s attacking numbers from his short professional career are inspiring, and after watching him play, I am really confident in his ability to produce in MLS. I worry about it taking him time to adjust to the style, conditions, and life of an MLS player, but his skills speak for themselves. I’ll take the Union’s four-and-a-half million dollar man to lead the team in goals.
Matt Ralph – Milan Iloski
I can see this season being even more of a goal-scoring by committee situation than it was even the past couple years and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a number of different players step up with the high-goal scorer of the month honor. While Iloski will be counted on more as a playmaker until Quinn Sullivan returns from injury, he has a nose for goal and a willingness to shoot and create chances for himself.
Matt McClain – Bruno Damiani
Last season, Bruno Damiani led the striker group in total minutes played throughout with just shy of 2,280 minutes of game action. He also tallied nine goals behind Tai Baribo’s team-leading 18. Of course, the Union decided to forgo paying Baribo his well-earned market value contract and he’s since repositioned himself slightly south to DC United. And his absence leaves a huge gap to be filled. We know Ezekiel Alladoh should make an impact in a variety of roles – whether off the bench or as a starter – but we also know Damiani’s ability to lead the line pressing-wise is crucial. He has a chance to lead the striker group again in minutes this season. Sprinkle in Damiani’s ability to shoot on target and convert at a high-rate (team-leader with 33 shots on target along with a team best 74% shot conversion rate in the regular season), we could see him take the lead role in goals as well in 2026.
Quentin Hall – Bruno Damiani
Damiani finished with nine goals in 40 appearances last season, but his role was largely sacrificial with Tai Baribo as the primary box target. He did the dirty work, occupied defenders, and created space rather than living on the end of chances. With Baribo gone and Alladoh now able to handle more of the hold-up responsibility, Damiani’s role should flip. He can become the true poacher. Even without Kai Wagner’s service, chance creation will still come from Vassilev, Iloski, Alladoh, and potentially Anello. Damiani is also a likely penalty taker, which quietly raises his ceiling. I do rate Anello as a potential option; however, in his first MLS season, he may need time to adjust and could split minutes with Vasilev on the left. Damiani’s advantage is availability, consistency, and a role that now favors him as the primary finisher week in and week out.
Who do you predict will be the Union’s top scorer?
