International break is still in full swing this week, as LAFC wont return to their MLS Cup run until this weekend. Which gives us the perfect window (pause for groans mixed with sight chuckles) to start a conversation. Back in September, LAFC unveiled a Ring Of Honor at BMO Stadium. As anyone who’s been around this club long enough would expect, the first inductee was none other than El Rey himself, Carlos Vela. The first-ever signing for the club, beloved soccer player in Los Angeles, and the man who made a promise to deliver a championship to LAFC and did just that in 2022. As it stands he is the only member of this illustrious club, so it got us thinking, who would be next? Who throughout their time and history with the club would be next in line for such an honor? We have a few ideas as one player seems almost ready for the distinction right now, one player is beloved amongst day one fans, and one might come across more like a ‘hear us out’ than sure thing. So, let’s get into it!
Sounds of the Game | Noche de Carlos Vela
📽️ Full episode: https://t.co/njNTi3BVuY pic.twitter.com/ke99JIinyP
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 27, 2025
The Obvious Choice – Heir Apparent
Let’s go ahead and get the most obvious one out of the way now, as forward Denis Bouanga has already secured his place with club legend status. In a lot of ways, he was just as much the reason for the club’s MLS Cup run as Carlos Vela was. His arrival in 2022 gave Vela a dependable scoring partner, while also easing the load he had to carry. He was able to slide into the role of provider at times, allowing Bouanga a chance to make his mark as a goalscorer. While he only netted three goals in his debut season, we still saw glimpses of what he was to become and in 2023 he had arrived emphatically. That season he finished with 38 goals, secured the Golden Boot, and earned MLS Best XI honors for the first time, and he hasn’t slowed down since. As it stands today, Bouanga has scored 101 goals for LAFC across all competitions. He was recently named to his third consecutive MLS Best XI team, has been named an MLS All-Star three consecutive seasons, and helped lead the club to its first-ever Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy win. Being the focal point and helping lead LAFC to its second MLS Cup trophy this season would be monumental for him, but future spot in the Ring of Honor is already secured at this point.
Denis Bouanga | By the Numbers
A statistical breakdown of the 101 goals the LAFC forward has scored for the Black & Gold 📝
🔗 https://t.co/1TeSN33I8W pic.twitter.com/Zw2U9xL123
— LAFC (@LAFC) November 5, 2025
“He scored the first goal against the flounders”
If there are any Seattle Sounders fans reading this, don’t shoot the messenger, those are just the lyrics for part of the chant made for our next prospect. A player who, as the song goes, was the one to score the first-ever goal for LAFC in club history, forward Diego Rossi. The Uruguayan is an LAFC original, having been part of that inaugural roster, and was the right-hand man for Carlos Vela on the pitch. In his four seasons with Los Angeles Rossi scored 48 goals, served up 16 assists, was the inaugural MLS Young Player of the Year (2020), won Golden Boot (2020) and earned a spot on the MLS Best XI (2020). He netted double-digit goals in all but one season with the club, scoring just six goals in his final season with LAFC (2021). The parting of ways was very amicable and while he narrowly missed a chance to lift the MLS Cup with LAFC, he has done incredibly well with Columbus Crew, helping them win the MLS Cup over LAFC in 2023. While his legend status for the club may be arguable, he is a player that did a lot to set the foundation for the club, especially in attack. He is absolutely deserving of a spot in the Ring of Honor down the line.
A force in Black & Gold since day ☝️
🧵 A look back at some of the best moments from Diego Rossi. pic.twitter.com/GHjzJOMCA6
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 1, 2021
Showing love to the backline
This is where things could get a bit argumentative. A player worthy of Ring of Honor induction could mean a layer of things. Is it a player that scored a lot of goals for the club? A Player who played a major reason in winning them a lot of trophies? A player that was unquestionably a leader for the years he represented the team? In reality, it should be a mix of all those. Its easy to point to attackers and midfields and have a litany worthy because of the direct impact they have on scoreline, however when you are talking about honoring a player at club level, defense deserves some love too. That is why our next offering for a potential future induction is defender, Ryan Hollingshead. Now, hear us out on this one. Hollingshead arrived ahead of the 2022 season as a depth/veteran addition. A longtime MLS stalwart, he was brought in at a time the team needed a bit of MLS experience to get over that MLS Cup hump, and they did just that his first season with the club.
Back for more 🏆
👨🏻 Ryan Hollingshead re-signs with the club. pic.twitter.com/HBhxnJiwb5
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 24, 2025
In his four seasons with the club, Hollingshead has had some of his best defensive seasons of his career. Totaling 232 tackles, 138 tackles on dribblers (players on the ball), 118 defensive blocks, and 146 interceptions. That’s just defense, because Hollingshead has also cemented himself as an attacking threat out the back for the club as well. Those old enough will remember Laurent Ciman and his wonder free-kicks, but Hollingshead has shown a consistency not seen in a defender, totaling 13 goals and 6 assists for the club so far. Stats aside, he is also very clearly the leader they wanted him to be when he was brought in. He has provided that MLS experience and really grown into a person the team can lean on in terms of keeping energy high, and being the one that says what needs to be said, when it needs to be said. He was a huge reason the team has seen as many finals as it has since his arrival, why they secured an MLS Cup and their first-ever U.S. Open Cup trophy, and why they are on the current run they are on this season. In our humble opinion, he is absolutely the first non-attacker that should get the honor once his time on the pitch comes to an end, because he truly embodies what it means to be black & gold, not to mention one of the sweetest mustaches in the game.
Who do you think should be inducted into the Ring Of Honor down the line? Let us know in the comments below!