Freetown, Sierra Leone — It’s a wrap for one of Sierra Leone’s most celebrated football exports. Former Leone Stars captain and MLS veteran striker Kei Ansu Kamara has officially hung up his boots, bringing an end to a remarkable 20-year professional career.
The 41-year-old announced his retirement on Monday, May 4, 2026, via a heartfelt video message, expressing gratitude for a journey that took him from war-torn Sierra Leone to the heights of Major League Soccer.
A Storied MLS Career
Kamara retires as the second all-time leading scorer in MLS history with 147 regular-season goals, achieved across a record 12 different clubs — the most by any player in league history. He made his MLS debut with the Columbus Crew in 2006 after being selected ninth overall in the SuperDraft and went on to play for teams including Sporting Kansas City, Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution, Colorado Rapids, LAFC, Chicago Fire, and most recently FC Cincinnati.
Highlights of his MLS journey include:
– A career-best 22-goal season in 2015 with Columbus Crew, which tied the single-season record at the time. He earned MLS Best XI honors and finished as runner-up for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award that year.
– Two MLS All-Star selections (2015 and 2023).
– Winning the 2024 U.S. Open Cup with LAFC.
– Named MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year for his off-field contributions.
The towering 6’3″ forward was known for his aerial prowess, work rate, leadership, and infectious joy on the pitch. He also had brief stints abroad, including with Middlesbrough and Norwich City in England.
International Icon for Leone Stars
For Sierra Leone, Kamara earned 45 caps and scored 8 goals between 2008 and 2026. As captain, he was a pivotal figure for the Leone Stars, inspiring a generation of players and fans through qualifying campaigns and embodying resilience on the international stage. He scored the sold goal against Benin that sent the Leone Stars to the African Cup of Nations in the 2021 edition held in Cameroon. That was the country’s first appearance in 25 years since the 1996 tournament.
From Adversity to Inspiration
Born on September 1, 1984, in Kenema, Sierra Leone, Kamara’s early life was shaped by the country’s civil war. He escaped the violence as a teenager through a refugee resettlement program and settled in the United States, where his talent blossomed at Cal State Dominguez Hills before turning professional.
Tributes have poured in from across the MLS community, with clubs like LAFC and Colorado Rapids praising his grit, longevity, and humanitarian efforts. Fans and former teammates remember him as a journeyman who never played for just one crest, a true embodiment of perseverance and passion for the game.
As Kei Kamara steps away from the pitch, his legacy as one of MLS’s greatest strikers and a national hero for Sierra Leone remains secure. Sierra Leonean football and the global game owe much to the boy who fled conflict and became a scoring legend.
