Prior to Sunday, the question of "when will Landon Donovan break the all-time MLS scoring record?" was one probably best-saved for the upcoming offseason, with an eye towards attacking Jeff Cunningham's 134-goal regular-season record in early 2014.
With only 12 games to go in the 2013 season, he was eight goals from passing Cunningham. Not impossible, but not a simple task by any stretch.
When will Landon Donvan break the all-time regular season scoring record?
And then Donovan went out and netted a spectacular hat trick Sunday night — the fourth of his MLS career — taking his own tally to 130 goals, wiling his LA Galaxy side to a 3-3 road draw against FC Dallas and snagging the MLS Player of the Week award in the process.
The form that saw the 31-year-old win the Golden Ball at the CONCACAF Gold Cup last month has quickly translated into a severe uptick in play for his club side as well. And considering he's only played in 14 league games so far this year, Donovan may be more physically fresh at this point in the season than he has ever been before in his career.
Five goals in 11 games, is all he needs? "Psh, chill, y'all, I've got this," Donovan would say, probably. So, the question is then begging to be asked: "When will Landon Donovan break the all-time MLS regular season goalscoring record?"
A quick look at Donovan's career successes against the Galaxy's remaining 2013 regular-season opponents:
August 17 - vs. Real Salt Lake: 9 goals in 17 games
August 24 - at Vancouver Whitecaps: 3 goals in 5 games
August 31 - vs. San Jose Earthquakes: 7 goals in 13 games
September 7 - vs. Colorado Rapids: 10 goals in 32 games
September 14 - at D.C. United: 14 goals in 19 games
September 21 - vs. Seattle Sounders: 1 goal in 10 games
September 29 - at Portland Timbers: 4 goals in 6 games
October 6 - vs. Chivas USA: 9 goals in 22 games
October 16 - vs. Montreal Impact: 0 goals in 1 game
October 20 - vs. San Jose Earthquakes: 7 goals in 13 games
October 27 - at Seattle Sounders: 1 goal in 10 games
