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Major League Soccer

·26 July 2026

Major League Soccer

·26 July 2026

By MLSsoccer staff

Denis Bouanga has been in superb form since LAFC returned from the 2026 FIFA World Cup break, and he has now collected MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob ULTRA honours for Matchday 18.

The star forward struck twice and also set up a goal in Saturday's 4-0 home win over Sporting Kansas City, a result that leaves the Black & Gold level on a Western Conference-leading 33 points.

With his latest brace, Bouanga moved to 75 goals in his MLS regular-season career. He is the 39th player in MLS history to reach that milestone and only one of four active players to do so.

This was the 16th occasion on which Bouanga has scored multiple goals in a regular-season match, and he now has four straight seasons with at least 10 regular-season goals.

In addition, Bouanga and Son Heung-Min have found the net in all three matches since LAFC restarted their campaign in mid-July. That dangerous pair has combined for 13g/16a this year.

This is the sixth time Bouanga has been named Player of the Matchday and the second time this season (Matchday 6). His six Player of the Matchday awards are the third-most among active players, behind only Inter Miami CF superstar Lionel Messi (14) and Nashville SC great Hany Mukhtar (nine).

Next, Bouanga and LAFC will travel to Vancouver Whitecaps FC for a Western Conference heavyweight clash on Aug. 1 (7:30 pm ET | Apple TV).

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