The third edition of the Indian Super League kicks off in Guwahati on 1st October when NorthEast United FC take on the Kerela Blasters. Eight teams will play fourteen matches each culminating in the knockout phase of the tournament which will decide the winners. Footballing greats in Zico, Marco Materrazi and Gianluca Zambrotta will be seen in a coaching role as every team fights to become champions in this three-month competition.
The Indian Super League has seen several star players grace the pitch in the previous two editions. Strikers like Nicolas Anelka, David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero, who have had hugely successful careers in Europe have gone up against each other in the league. However, it was often the lesser known or the fitter ones who have gone on to light up the event with their goals.
In this list, we take a look at the best strikers the ISL has seen over the two seasons:
#5 Reinaldo
The Brazilian was instrumental in Goa FC’s campaign last season as he scored seven goals to guide Zico’s team to the finals of the competition.
Zico’s was arguably the most attacking coach in the competition and Reinaldo was at the centre of most of the moves of the team going forward. The striker, who has played in some of the biggest sides in the world in Santos, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain, registered 23 shots on goal. It was not only his strikes on goal, but also his vision and passing were crucial in Goa’s campaign as he also bagged four assists in the tournament.
Reinaldo was one of Goa’s most consistent performers last season and returns this year in the Indian Super League to give the Goans a win in the competition.
#4 Sunil Chhetri
Sunil Chhetri has been India’s best player for quite a few years now and has been voted the AIFF Player of the Year four times in 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2014. Chhetri made his debut in the Indian Super League in Season 2 last year and lighted up the tournament netting 7 goals in 11 matches for Mumbai City FC.
Chettri scored six times in three games as he helped Mumbai City to three consecutive victories last season. It included a hattrick against NorthEast United, making him the first Indian to score a hattrick in the ISL.
The 32-year-old was one of the most potent players for Mumbai City FC last season. However, because of a frosty relationship with coach Nicolas Anelka, Sunil had to play in different positions which affected his form. Nevertheless, he was one of the brightest sparks in last season’s ISL and fans will hope that he can replicate it this year as well.
#3 Jeje Lalpekhlua
Jeje Lalpekhlua is doing everything right with the ball at his feet at the moment and has emerged as the new poster boy of Indian football. The Mizoram born striker is the highest scoring Indian in the Indian Super League across two seasons with 10 goals and Chennaiyin FC will hope Jeje can replicate his heroics in Season 3 as well.
Lalpekhlua came to the fore in his time with Pailan Arrows in the I-League back in the 2010-11 season. He scored 13 goals in 15 matches for Pailan which made him one of the most sought young talents in India. Chennaiyin FC got hold of the services of the striker in 2014 and he scored 4 goals for the Super Machans in the inaugural edition.
Next season would go on to be even better for the Mizoram man as he netted six goals for the Chennai-based team, all from open play. His lethal partnership with Stiven Mendoza was integral in Chennaiyin’s title win in ISL Season 2. Jeje Lalpekhlua has grown from strength to strength and fans are hopeful that he’ll continue his rise to establish himself as the number one striker in India.
#4 Iain Hume
Iain Hume has been arguably the best performer in the Indian Super League across the two seasons. He was named the Hero of the League in 2014 after almost single-handedly guiding Kerala Blasters to the finals. He joined Atletico de Kolkata for the next edition and was a prolific goalscorer for them, notching up 11 goals to become the second highest in ISL 2 behind Stiven Mendoza.
Iain Hume, though playing as a striker, is a workhorse who runs tirelessly for his team. The former Leicester City man is an asset to any team he plays for and last season Atletico identified his talent and made him their first choice striker. Hume didn’t disappoint by any means. Though criticised at the beginning of the season for the lack of goals, he silenced his critics by scoring a hattrick against Mumbai City FC.
Hume added 11 goals to his ISL tally of 5 which he scored in his first season with Kerala Blasters taking his total to 16, which makes him the second highest goalscorer in ISL till date. Hume renewed his contract with Atletico de Kolkata this season and will hope to recreate his form in the upcoming season as well.
#1 John Stiven Mendoza
John Stiven Mendoza was often unplayable last season and netted 13 goals in 16 appearances in Chennaiyin FC’s title-winning campaign. Deadly in front of the goal, Mendoza’s influence on Chennaiyin’s game was unmatched. He paired brilliantly well with Jeje Lalpekhlua and lead the attacking juggernaut of the champions.
Mendoza had scored 4 goals in 9 matches for Chennaiyin in 2014, but it was last season where he actually established himself as the star of the Super Machans. After a slow start, the Colombian came to the party with a hat-trick against FC Goa in Goa.
There was no looking back for the striker since then as he guided his team to the final of the competition, He would go on to become instrumental in the final match as well and score the decisive goal to win the second edition of the competition.
Mendoza will not be playing in this year’s ISL as he moved to MLS Club New York City FC alongside greats in Frank Lampard, David Villa and Andrea Pirlo.
