ISL 2018-19: 5 Strikers with the most goals in the history of the tournament

Ferran Corominas pipped Ian Hume's record of scoring the most number of goals in the ISL history after converting a penalty in the 79th minute to guide the Gaurs to a 2-0 victory over the Islanders.

What is more astonishing is the fact that the Spaniard forayed into the Indian waters only the previous season. In Spain, the 36-year-old spent the entirety of his career as a right-winger. However, Sergio Lobera deployed him centrally and, he didn't disappoint.

Currently, three strikers are at the forefront of the race to finish as the highest goalscorer in the history of the tournament but others are not far behind. On that note, here are 5 strikers with the most goals in the ISL tournament since its inception.

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#5 Jeje Lalpekhlua

Jeje Lalpekhlua has scored 22 goals from 64 matches (Image Courtesy: ISL)

Jeje Lalpekhlua is fifth on the list and the second when only Indian strikers are taken into consideration.

A Chennaiyin FC loyalist, the Mizo Sniper has been with the Marina Machans since its inaugural 2014 season. Unlike the previous name and the names coming after, Jeje didn't have a particularly stellar season where he showcased his prolific striking skills.

Instead, it was his continuity in the first four seasons which ensured he scored goals from time to time. In the 2017-18 season, he scored nine goals in 20 matches for Chennaiyin FC, becoming the first Indian to finish as the top goalscorer of a championship winning side.

However, his form in the ongoing season is dreadful, to say the least. In 11 matches and 556 minutes he has been in the pitch, he couldn't score a single goal nor provide an assist.

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#4 Marcelo Pereira (Marcelinho)

Marcelinho has scored 21 goals from 42 matches (Image Courtesy: ISL)

A product of the Youth Academy of Brazil's Flamengo, Marcelo Pereira started his footballing career from the B team of Atletico Madrid in 2006. The nomad would go on to play in Greece, UAE, the third divisions of Italy and Brazil before finding solace in India through Delhi Dynamos.

In the 2016 ISL season, Marcelinho, as he is fondly called here, scored 10 goals and bagged five assists for the Delhi Dynamos FC.

FC Pune City took note of his talent and made them their captain for the 2017-18 season. While playing for the Stallions, he bagged seven assists and scored eight goals in 17 matches. Moreover, whenever he scored, the Pune outfit never lost a match.

However, his present season with FC Pune City is going on a downward spiral. The 31-year-old managed to score only five goals and assist only twice. With time, he has become predictable which has led to his downfall.

#3 Sunil Chhetri

Sunil Chhetri has scored 26 goals from 51 matches (Image Courtesy: ISL)

Captain. Leader. Legend. These adjectives have become a cliche to the Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri whom the Government of India recently awarded the Padma Shri. Playing only 51 matches, the 34-year-old averages at 0.51 goals per game.

In the 2015 season, while playing for Mumbai City FC, Chhetri scored seven goals and set up one in 11 matches when they finished in the top of the table.

In 2016, he could bag only one assist in the six matches he played. However, in the ensuing 2017-18 season, he produced a phenomenal performance with Bengaluru FC.

Playing as a second striker behind Venezuela's Miku, Sunil Chhetri scored 14 goals and set up two in the 21 matches he played.

At the end of 2017, the AIFF also awarded him the Player of Year for his achievements with Bengaluru FC and the senior Indian national team.

In the ongoing 2018-19 season, he has managed to rattle the back of the net only five times in 13 matches. It looks as if Miku's absence has taken a toll on the striking abilities of the Indian.

#2 Iain Hume

Iain Hume has scored 28 goals from 63 matches (Image Courtesy: ISL)

Like Jeje Lalpekhlua, Canada's Iain Hume has been in India since the inaugural ISL season. In the inaugural season with Kerala Blasters FC, he only scored five goals and bagged three assists in 16 matches.

However, arch-rivals ATK roped him for the next season where he scored 11 times in 16 matches.

In the title-winning 2016 season with ATK, he again finished as the top scorer with seven goals from 14 matches despite the club taking a defence-first approach into their matches.

His previous club, Kerala Blasters FC welcomed him with open arms for the 2017-18 season and he scored five goals in the 13 matches he played. However, he couldn't save the Kerala-based side from not qualifying for the playoffs.

FC Pune City signed him for the ongoing season after letting go Emiliano Alfaro. He has only played four matches till now and failed to score or create any goal. He needs to pull up his socks if he wants to reclaim his throne as the highest goalscorer in the ISL history.

#1 Ferran Corominas

Ferran Corominas has scored 29 goals from 32 matches (Image Courtesy: ISL)

Spending the majority of his career with Espanyol in the La Liga where he even won the 2006 Copa del Rey, Ferran Corominas forayed into the Indian waters in 2017 with FC Goa.

His ability to score goals even when given a half-chance proved worthy for the Gaurs as they qualified for the playoffs. In the 2017-18 season, he scored 18 goals in 20 matches with a staggering average of 0.9 goals per game.

In the ongoing 2018-19 season, he has already racked up 11 goals in 12 matches, averaging at 0.92 goals per game. Moreover, he has also bagged five assists, meaning he has been directly involved in more than half of the 29 goals FC Goa has scored this season.

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Who do you think will finish as the highest goalscorer of the ISL once the 2018-19 season gets over? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.