Ghanaian attacker Joseph Paintsil capped off an individually impressive year by clinching Los Angeles Galaxy’s Golden Boot for the 2025 season during the club’s annual awards gala.
The dynamic forward finished as Galaxy’s leading scorer in Major League Soccer, netting 10 goals in 22 appearances, a return that highlighted his consistency and attacking flair in an otherwise frustrating campaign for the defending champions.
Paintsil etched his name into the club’s history books when he became only the third player in Galaxy’s history to register a first-half hat-trick, joining the ranks of Robbie Keane and Alejandro Moreno. The milestone came in a dazzling display against Sporting Kansas City, underlining his ability to deliver on big occasions.
Can’t catch Joske 🇬🇭
Joseph Paintsil earns himself 2025 LA Galaxy Golden Boot honors pic.twitter.com/twCMpzYQII
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) October 27, 2025
While his performances earned him the top scorer accolade, the club’s Player of the Year award went to Diego Fagundez, who was recognized for his overall influence throughout the season.
Despite his personal success, Paintsil expressed his disappointment at the team’s failure to qualify for the playoffs, a sharp contrast to their championship-winning run the previous year.
“I think this season was a lesson for us, and this is also a wake-up call for us as a team. It hasn’t been the way we wanted it to be. Unfortunately, we gave out a lot of points, a lot of unnecessary goals, a lot of mistakes. We get punished, and we’re here now, not even playing for the playoff. It’s really a sad moment for a champion team last season and not playing in the playoffs,” he said.
Joseph Paintsil laments “sad moment” as LA Galaxy miss out on MLS playoffs
“We should have at least been in the playoffs even for us to test ourselves and see how far we would go. But in everything, you just need to give thanks to God. He knows the best.”
Paintsil’s words captured both the frustration and humility that marked Galaxy’s 2025 campaign, one filled with missed chances, yet sprinkled with moments of individual brilliance from their Ghanaian star.
