Top 5 goalscorers in the Indian Super League

Enter
Indian striking partners in the list?

Since the inception of the Hero Indian Super League, fans have witnessed the goal tally pile up day by day. It is mainly down to some breathtaking individual performances from plenty of talismans up front helping the number go outre and smash plenty of records.

Legendary strikers Alessandro Del Piero, Diego Forlan, Nicolas Anelka, and Robbie Keane have all embraced this league, but they do not make the chart. Only a few have been able to make this list after proving their consistency in front of the net.

Young players look up to these established players and learn from them which helps them with their development. Former Chennaiyin FC striker John Stiven Mendoza spent two years in India and dazzled his way through to win the title once. Ever since then, the striker has gone on to another level to represent for New York FC and French outfit Amiens.

As the new season looms, in this article, we will look at the top five goalscorers in the Indian Super League.


#5 Marcelinho (FC Pune City) - 18 Goals

Enter c
Marcelinho with the Golden Boot

Born in Rio De Janeiro, Marcelinho started his professional footballing career with Spanish side Atletico Madrid. The Brazilian forward took up the field only thrice for the Atletico Madrid reserves. The 31-year-old struggled to stamp his authority in the next three years, until he made 103 appearances for Greek side Skoda Xanthi between 2009 and 2013.

Baniyas, Catania, Atromitos, and Anapolis were the subsequent clubs for the Brazilian forward. Former Juventus great and Delhi Dynamos head coach Gianluca Zambrotta said Marcelinho's experience would be vital for his side ahead of the 2016 season.

He scored a hat-trick against FC Goa which helped him reach double figures for the season. He bagged the Player of the Season award and the Golden Boot as he finished as the top scorer of 2016 Indian Super League.

FC Pune City were destined to be the next club for the 31-year-old. It did not take time for the forward as he was able to notch up nine goals from 18 appearances. Since Marcelinho is yet to win a silverware in his career, the Brazilian will be determined for a change of fortune as the club prepare to challenge for the title in the upcoming season.

#4 Ferran Corominas (FC Goa) - 18 goals

<p>
Ferran Corominas

The Spanish forward rose through the academy ranks of Espanyol. The Spanish international was starting to hit headlines as a forward with the reserves, but the Spanish top division club manager Luis Fernandez decided to use him in middle of the park.

Ferran Corominas is a famous name among the Espanyol loyalties as he would be remembered for that last minute winner against Real Sociedad. With that goal, the Spanish international helped Espanyol save their La Liga status and kept them in the Spanish top division for the tenth consecutive season. He spent eight years with the first team, but he was totally ostracized by current Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino. He took up the pitch 165 times for the Spanish side.

The 35-year-old was forced to take a step down and play in the Segunda Division with Girona. Following a successful year with Elche and gaining promotion to the La Liga, Ferran cemented his place and played two years of LaLiga. Due to excessive debt and economic mismanagement, Elche became the first club to get relegated in this bizarre manner.

He spent one year at Mallorca and Cyprus side Doxa, before signing for the Indian Super League side FC Goa in 2017. His debut campaign is a season to remember as the Spanish international netted 18 goals in a single year, thereby shattering all kinds of records including the highest goals scored by a player in a single season. Following multiple contract rejections, Ferran has committed to FC Goa by penning a new deal which will keep him at India for the upcoming season.

#3 Sunil Chhetri( Bengaluru FC ) - 21 Goals

E
Sunil Chhetri

Sunil Chhetri spent his career early on with the I-League heavyweights Mohun Bagan for three years where he made a name for himself and made the debut for his nation in 2004. JCT was the next destination for the Indian skipper. At the age of 21, he went to score 21 times from 48 appearances before making a move to another part of Kolkata, East Bengal.

He spent a fruitful season with the I-League side netting nine goals from just 14 appearances in the process. In 2009, Dempo wrapped up a deal for the Indian forward and the 34-year-old helped the side by lifting the league title.

The Indian forward had everything - pace, ability to beat defenders with adept play and finding the back of the net with such ease. This prompted the American side Kansas City to bring him to their club. Sunil became the third Indian to play for a club outside the subcontinent. He returned to India with Chirag United after spending only one year outside of India.

He scored nine goals from 16 appearances upon his return to boyhood club Mohun Bagan. A new adventure sought Sunil Chhetri who decided to make a move to Portuguese heavyweights Sporting CP. He made three appearances for the reserves and completed his move to India once again. A year on loan at Churchill Brothers, then his joyous life with Bengaluru FC started.

In these five years at Bengaluru FC, Sunil Chhetri has scored 70 goals for the club becoming the highest scorer in the clubs history. In his debut campaign with Bengaluru FC in the ISL, he was adjudged Player of the Tournament carrying his team to the second place.

#2 Jeje Lalpekhlua ( Chennaiyin FC ) - 22 Goals

Ente
Jeje Lalpekhlua

I-League side Pune Football Club was the outfit which nurtured the young Mizoram forward when he joined the Maharashtrian side at the age of 16. Understandably, the 27-year-old kicked off his career slowly, and went on to score 19 goals from 61 appearances. He spent a year on loan at Pailon Arrows when he was struggling to find the back of the net in 2009.

Goan side Dempo signed Jeje Lalpekhlua in 2013 and bagged only five goals from 20 games. Notwithstanding, his potential was viable to the whole nation who saw him as one for the future. One time I-League winners Mohun Bagan were the side to register their interest on the forward and swap him to Kolkata. He spent two loan spells at the same club and went on to score 31 goals from 75 games.

Upon the inception of the Indian Super League club Chennaiyin FC, the ruthless attacker was initially signed on loan for a year where the Blues were knocked out in the semi-finals. However, Chennaiyin FC boss Marco Materazzi made a permanent move for the Mizoram forward.

His attacking prowess came into play as he scored six goals and helped the Blues lift the Indian Super League in 2015. He has significantly improved under the English manager John Gregory who compared Jeje's traits with the leading Premier League scorer Alan Shearer.

His faith on the striker paid off as the forward bagged nine goals last season taking his overall tally to 22 goals and procure the title with Chennaiyin FC for the second time.

#1 Iain Hume (FC Pune City ) - 28 Goals

En
Iain Hume

Largely regarded as "Humettan" by Kerala Blasters fans who have such tenderness in the Southern part of India, Iain Hume is one of the best to have graced the Indian Premier League history. At the age of 34, the Canadian forward is still raring to go following a knee injury last season.

The Edinburgh attacker kicked off his career with the English side Tranmere Rovers. He spent 14 years in Britain and had stints with Barnsley, Leicester City and Preston North End before signing for the Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters in 2014.

Bringing his experience into play, Hume put forward some stunning performances to win the Player of the Tournament award. However, he was pinched by the champions a year later. The 34-year-old was an influential figure with ATK and won the tournament for the first time in 2016. Resigning for Kerala in 2017, his journey was cut short by an injury which kept him out halfway through the tournament.

In these four years, Iain Hume scored 28 goals in this tournament making himself the leading scorer. On 2nd August, FC Pune City announced the signing of the Canadian forward.

Quick Links

Edited by Ben Winfield