HARRISON, NJ - MARCH 13: A general view of the MLS, Fussball Herren, USA march ball on the field during the first half of the Major League Soccer game between the New York Red Bulls and Minnesota United on March 13, 2022 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire SOCCER: MAR 13 MLS - Minnesota United at New York Red Bulls Icon220332609

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Carlos Vela are the most dominant players in MLS, and their rivalry has been the talk of the league for the last couple of months.

The rivalry started in July of this year, in an interview before the LA derby when Ibrahimovic was asked if he felt he had been surpassed by Vela as the then 29-year old Mexican striker was (and still is) leading in the goal scoring table this season. Ibrahimovich made some strong comments rubbishing that claim without batting an eyelid.

Ibrahimovich has since gone on to back his statement with impressive goalscoring exploits, doggedly chasing down Vela for the position of the highest goalscorer at the end of the season, as they both look to break the MLS single-season scoring record held by Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez – something that www.sportsbetting.in are backing Zlatan to achieve based on their currents odds.

Carlos Vela, now 30, matched Martinez’s record with his 31st in 30 games in the 70th minute for Los Angeles FC versus Minnesota United earlier today.

This landmark arrived few days after Vela lifted the MLS Supporter’s Shield for LAFC, after beating Houston Dynamo to earn the best regular-season record on Wednesday, becoming the 13th different MLS team to finish with the most points in the league.

Vela’s 31 goals in 30 games this season is just two more than Los Angeles Galaxy captain Ibrahimovic, who scored his 29th in a wild 4-3 home loss to Vancouver Whitecaps earlier in the same matchday.

Josef Martinez is the real loser here, as his record is just a year old – after beating the previous record in the past season. Both strikers have one match to go and could very well smash the record and set new ones. Ibrahimovic only needs a hat-trick to pass the record and Vela, and the Mexican, too, isn’t to be ruled out.

Vela’s LAFC will host the Colorado Rapids while Zlatan’s Galaxy travel to the Houston. The Rapids have conceded 60 goals this season in 42 matches – the second-worst defensive record in the West and third-worst in the league. Houston, also, has struggled defensively, conceding 57 goals this campaign. The stars favour both strikers, who just happen to be playing two of the sides with the league’s worst defensive records on the same matchday, and the fans will be waiting with baited breath to see who emerges top of the scorers’ charts at the end of it all, and inadvertently earns the unofficial bragging rights as MLS’ best player.

Vela will also be fighting to help LAFC break New York Red Bulls’ one-season old record of 71, which broke Toronto FC’s one-year-old record of 69, which means he will be more motivated to break the Martinez record.

However, Zlatan‘s ego is not only bigger than Vela’s but is as big as the MLS (if not bigger), and this puts him in the favourites’ spot to clinch that coveted record.

I wouldn’t bet against the Lion in this one.

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