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The fourth season of ISL is underway with 10 teams fighting for the title this time around. Canadian forward Iain Hume leads the goal scoring and appearances charts with 23 goals in 47 appearances. Although the goal scoring record table is largely lead by overseas players, there are some Indians as well in it who are proving their mettle on the big stage. Let's have a look at the top 5 Indian goalscorers at the Indian Super League.
#1 Jeje Lalpekhlua
The top scoring Indian in the ISL and the third overall is a forward from Mizoram, who is leading the line along with Chhetri for the Indian national team as well. Jeje Lalpekhlua has represented Chennaiyin FC for three seasons and scored 13 goals for them. His top scoring season included 6 goals in 11 games which led to Chennaiyin winning the title in 2015.
However, his 3 goals in the next season proved of little importance as Chennaiyin FC languished at the bottom of the table. With, Gregory Nelson and Mohammad Rafi leading the line from the front with him Chennaiyin FC are a team to watch out for. Meanwhile, Jeje also managed to score 20 goals in 46 games for the Indian national team. He is rightly seen as the future of Indian football after Sunil Chhetri.
#2 Sunil Chhetri
The star captain of the Indian national football team is on yet another goal-scoring list. He has scored 8 goals in the ISL in 18 appearances and has maintained a good goal to game ratio here as well. He is the top scorer for Indian National Team with 56 goals in 97 appearances. 7 of his 8 goals have come up for Mumbai City FC in the 2015-16 season marred by Bengaluru FC's run to the final of the AFC Cup and injuries.
He has had a solid start to the 2017 season with a goal against his former club Mumbai City in the 2-0 victory in the opening game and is confident of leading the goalscoring charts if given a full season without breaks.
#3 Arata Izumi
The Japanese-born Indian footballer has scored 6 goals in 20 appearances in the Indian Super League. He started with Atletico de Kolkata in 2015 and went on to play for Pune City FC in the following season.
His first goal came up against in a high voltage clash against FC Goa on October 2015 while his second one was witnessed by Pele himself. His last goal for ATK came in his last game for them against Mumbai City FC. His performance was not up to the mark in the next season as he scored just the one goal in 9 appearances for Pune.
However, he would like to make amends this season and help Kerala Blasters win the ISL title for the first time. Being 35-years-old, he does not have age on his side and thus will have to give his best shot in the season 4 of ISL.
#4 Mohammed Rafi
This forward from Kerala has represented 3 ISL clubs till date and scored a total of 6 goals for them. Although he is currently plying his trade with Chennaiyin FC he has previously represented Atletico de Kolkata (now ATK) and Kerala Blasters.
Although he scored only one goal in his maiden season with the champions Atletico de Kolkata he had a better season with Kerala Blasters in 2015. He scored on his debut for Blasters and also won ISL Emerging Player of the Match award against NorthEast United FC in 2015.
Due to his stellar performances, his contract was extended to the third season. He has also scored one goal for the Indian national team in 7 appearances.
#5 CK Vineeth
Chekiyot Kizhakkeveettill "C.K." Vineeth has been the star for Kerala Blasters in recent past. He was on loan from Bengaluru FC in 2015 and 2016 seasons to the Kerala Blasters. Vineeth had a dismal campaign in his inaugural ISL season, as he scored no goals in his 9 appearances with the club and Kerala went on to finish last in that season.
The next season began a bit late for him as he was engaged with Bengaluru FC in the AFC Cup and could start for Kerala only in their eighth game, where he scored a last-minute winner against FC Goa. A brace in his next game followed by two more goals in the campaign led to Kerala reaching the finals for the second time in 3 years and making his tally 5 goals. This year again he is representing his home state and will eye the ISL title with them.
