ISL Top Scorer 2023-24

Indian Super League 2023-24 is set to kickstart again and fans wants to see who ends up being the Top scorer of the ISL in this season. The Indian Super League has seen a plethora of goals scored since its inaugural season in 2014. Fikru Teferra Lemessa was the first player to score in the league and goals haven’t stopped raining since then.

Into its 10th season, top players from across the World have plied their trades in the league and have broken several records. Brazilian and Manchester City legend Elano Blumer took away the ISL Golden Boot in the inaugural season by scoring 8 goals. His exceptional on-the-ball and set-piece ability propelled Chennaiyin FC to the play-offs in 2014.

Here is the list of all top goal scorers in ISL history.

Chennaiyin FC’s John Steven Mendoza Valencia finished top of the scoring charts in the second season by scoring 13 goals. Mendoza’s goal-scoring rate in the later stage of the tournament propelled Chennaiyin FC into the playoffs from the 8th place. The Marina Machans ended up winning the league riding on Mendoza’s goal-scoring ability.

Delhi Dynamos (now defunct) finished third in the 2016 season aided by Brazilian striker Marcelinho. Marcelinho’s set-piece ability coupled with pace and precision allowed the former Atletico Madrid striker to finish top of the scoring charts with 10 goals.

The arrival of Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC in the 2017-18 season expanded ISL’s reach into newer territories and extended the duration of the league. FC Goa and Bengaluru FC looked like the most prolific sides in the league as they finished first and second respectively. Bengaluru’s Miku scored 15 goals but that was not enough as Goa’s Ferran Corominas scored 18 goals and finished top of the scoring charts.

Corominas continued his goal-scoring foray and finished top of the scoring charts for a second consecutive season. The Spaniard scored 16 goals and Goa finished second again in the league table.

The 2019-20 season saw an intense bit of competition for the ISL top scorers race. ATK’s Roy Krishna, Chennaiyin FC’s Nerijus Valskis, and Kerala Blasters’ Bartholomew Ogbeche finished top of the scoring charts with 15 goals each. With a higher assist count and decent scoring rate, Valskis was awarded the ISL Top Scorer in the 2019-20 season.

The following season was marked by an explosive showing from Spanish marksman Igor Angulo as the FC Goa forward edged out Roy Krishna in the Golden Boot race on a technicality after both finished on 14 goals.

But the 2021-22 season was more of a one-sided affair with Bartholomew Ogbeche scoring almost twice the number of goals his nearest competitors managed. Playing for Hyderabad FC, the Nigerian striker scored 18 goals in 20 matches to lead the Nizams to the final and eventually the ISL title.

Meanwhile, the 2022-23 season witnessed another evenly-contested race for the Golden Boot as Diego Mauricio, Dimitri Petratos, and Cleiton Silva all ended their campaign on twelve goals. However, Mauricio piped the other two for the coveted award as his goal tally came in fewer minutes.

With the ISL now becoming a 12-team contest, the 2023-24 is expected to witness a more fierce and open contest for the goal-scoring charts