MLS Goals of the Week: Ojeda Stuns with Acrobatic Scorpion Kick, Judd Delivers a Jaw-Dropping Shocker

The intensity of the playoff race was on full display during Matchday 31 of the 2026 MLS season. Clubs are battling fiercely for positions above the cutoff line, and time is dwindling with Decision Day on Nov. 7 fast approaching.

For supporters and viewers alike, that translated into a flurry of goals and no lack of thrills throughout the weekend.

San Jose Earthquakes' Preston Judd dashed Nashville SC's aspirations on Saturday, forcing the Eastern Conference contender to wait yet another week for their shot at the Supporters' Shield.

Meanwhile, Orlando City's Martín Ojeda may have produced the Goal of the Year, pulling off a rare type of finish that was just one of four goals the team netted in a dominant 4–1 victory over D.C. United.

Here are the top five goals from the weekend.

5. Leo Walta's Set-Piece Beauty

SCREAMER FROM @LAFC'S WALTA 🚀🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/n3q72JsMoQ

Leo Walta drilled a free kick from approximately 30 yards out, sending his effort perfectly into the corner of the net to hand LAFC a 1–0 advantage over New York City FC just before halftime. They departed Citi Field with a 1–1 draw.

It was the 23-year-old midfielder's first goal in Black & Gold, having joined the Los Angeles club in August on loan from EFL Championship side Swansea City.

"It feels incredible, obviously, to score the free kick," Walta said after the match. "It is something I have been working on my whole life, so it feels wonderful. I noticed that the goalkeeper was fairly central, so I decided to place it toward the far post."

NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese made no attempt to stop Walta's effort, simply watching it nestle into the back of the net.

4. Preston Judd's Dream Crusher

Set-piece perfection! 💫

Eduard Löwen picks out Preston Judd, who heads home the equalizer for @SJEarthquakes! pic.twitter.com/1RX7aVR972

Judd ruined Nashville's evening, converting a sliding header from Eduard Löwen's free kick in the 70th minute to level the match at 1–1.

The contest at PayPal Park ended in a stalemate, yet Nashville required a win to become the quickest team in MLS history to secure the Supporters' Shield with four games remaining. The Music City side will now have to wait at least one more week to chase that piece of history.

San Jose, meanwhile, secured a playoff berth with the draw, joining the Vancouver Whitecaps, St. Louis City, FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo as the Western Conference sides to have already booked their spots.

3. The Weaving Lionel Messi

MESSI. This is what he does. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/IEjdmpnRRh

It was reminiscent of a 2012 Lionel Messi highlight reel set to a high-energy, instrumental soundtrack.

The 39-year-old football icon has certainly not lost his goalscoring touch over the years; however, he has increasingly conserved his movement on the pitch, saving his energy for the most critical, match-defining moments.

Yet he delivered a classic performance on Saturday, bursting at full pace from the center of the field into the penalty area before producing a brilliant finish. A clever, short pass to Germán Berterame at the edge of the box allowed Messi to get past two Atlanta United defenders, before he continued his run around Berterame to collect the return ball. The Argentine then weaved through two additional defenders inside the area before slotting a left-footed effort to the back post.

For anyone who missed his brilliance, Messi struck again just four minutes later, racing onto a long ball before leaving Atlanta defender Júnior Alonso in his wake. Inter Miami claimed a 3–1 victory, and Messi earned Man of the Match honors.

2. Yadaly Diaby's Highlight-Reel Banger

TOP BINS FROM YADALY DIABY! 🎯

What a strike from the forward to give @WhitecapsFC the lead! pic.twitter.com/EebRldzpkm

This was a goal Yadaly Diaby will cherish forever. Having come off the bench just five minutes earlier, the Whitecaps winger collected the ball on the left flank, cut inside and unleashed a perfectly curving effort toward the far post. The ball clipped the post before finding the back of the net, leaving Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver stunned, as he simply stared at the goal in disbelief without even attempting a save.

Diaby's strike turned out to be the match-winner, helping the Whitecaps leave Q2 Stadium with a 2–1 victory.

It was Diaby's second goal of the season, having joined the Canadian club on Sept. 1 from French Ligue 2 outfit Grenoble Foot 38.

1. Martin Ojeda's Scorpion Kick

TINCHO SCORPION KICK OMG 🚨 pic.twitter.com/BntDOk074O

Ojeda produced a strong contender for MLS Goal of the Year on Saturday night. Tracking Antoine Griezmann's chip into the penalty area, Ojeda launched himself horizontally to scorpion-kick the ball with the outside of his right foot into the net.

The acrobatic effort left everyone at Inter.co Stadium speechless, including Ojeda's own teammates.

"It was an unbelievable goal," said forward Marco Pašalić, who netted Orlando's fourth of the evening. "I have to congratulate [Ojeda]. These kinds of goals you don't see every weekend or every game, so I think this is something you need to watch maybe 100 times — not just 10 times like my goal."

🦂 pic.twitter.com/8DAZwlsgk3

It was the Designated Player's 15th goal of the season and, without question, his most spectacular.

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