Interesting Numbers and Stats from the LA Galaxy's first MLS season

The Los Angeles Galaxy did something last year that they failed to do in their first ever season back in 1996. They won the MLS Cup. It was also their sixth title in a record tenth appearance.

The LA Galaxy have set many records over the years. They have made history even since the 1996 when they fell short of winning it all by one game.

While the LA Galaxy are on a bit of a break from their 2025 MLS regular season schedule, here are a number of interesting stats from the six-time champions' first-ever season from 1996.

Longest Win Streak

The LA Galaxy weren't a stranger to victories during MLS's inaugural season. With a record of 19-13, they finished the regular season with the best record in the MLS Western Conference and second best record in the league.

Not only did a home record of 11-5 help, but a 12-game win streak paved the way for the Los Angeles Galaxy to be one of the first dominant teams in Major League Soccer. They would go on to play in the MLS Finals that year against D.C. United.

Unfortunately, the LA Galaxy failed to capture their first MLS Cup win that year, they set the record for the longest win streak in league history then. The Galaxy would soon experience a 15-game win streak that spanned from September 1997 through the next season into May 1998.

This record doesn't quite outshine the LA Galaxy's new record of opening a season without a win (16 games). It is quite the opposite of their first season.

Most goals scored in a season by an LA Galaxy player

Eddie Huertado was one the first legends within the Los Angeles Galaxy organization. It was his 24 goals in 1996 that set an early record for most scores by an LA Galaxy player.

That record was broken, however, in 2002. Carlos Ruiz connected on 32 goals that season. It also ended up being the first time the LA Galaxy won an MLS Cup title.

Zlatan Ibrahimović was one goal away from tying Ruiz's mark in 2019.

First Player in MLS to Record Multiple Hat Tricks in a Season

Part of the reason why Eduardo Hurtado was able to set an early record for most goals scored by an LA Galaxy player in a season was his ability to score more than once in a game.

On June 9, 1996, the Los Angeles Galaxy won 4-0 against the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars. Hurtado etched his name in the history books with his first-ever hat-trick. It was the third of the season after Steve Rammel and Giovanni Savarese completed their own.

Later in June that year, Hurtado made history by recording a second hat-trick. This time he was the only player to score in the 3-0 shutout win against the Colorado Rapids. Hurtado is the first to do it twice in a season.

Largest Attendance

In 1996, the LA Galaxy recorded an average attendance 28,916. That mark was quite impressive for the team during their inaugural season.

That record stands tall even until this day. The next closest mark is from the 2008 MLS regular season with an average attendance of 26,009.