Top 5 all-time record goalscorers in Indian Super League history

Sunil Chhetri, surprisingly, doesn’t feature on this list

The Indian Super League (ISL) may be a while away, but excitement for the league is at an all-time high. Fans can’t seem to get enough of India’s biggest football club competition and with more clubs expected to join the fray this season, it promises to be one for the ages.

Goals have been free flowing in the ISL since the league’s inception in 2014. The league has seen a number of players emerge through the ranks for their respective franchises and put on an impressive showing in their new roles. Some of these players have shone more than others, lighting up the league and gaining worldwide recognition. In a league watched by a good number of viewers across the world, the ISL’s reach is almost unbeatable.

So when you’re a proven goal scorer on such a big stage, it is indeed a huge achievement. It should come as no surprise then, that the names on this list are footballers you would have heard of if you’re a regular ISL fan and hopes from these players continue to remain high as ever as we head towards another season of the ISL. Here are the 5 highest goal scorers in the ISL since its inception:

#5 Dudu – 12 goals

Dudu joins the prestigious ranks

Charismatic Nigerian Dudu Omagbemi joins this list as the fifth highest scorer in the ISL owing to his strong performances in the league with Chennaiyin in last season’s outing. An impressive 5 goals from 13 appearances makes Dudu one of the highest scorers in the Chennai outfit currently. Dudu is a player who understands the Indian game having played for Sporting de Clube Goa previously in the I-League along with spells at the likes of Salgaocar, East Bengal and even Mohun Bagan.

His loan spell at Pune City FC and a 2015 run at FC Goa earned him huge praise and the tenacious forward moved to Chennaiyin FC last year and ended up scoring a memorable hat-trick in a game against North East United FC. His stock remains high as we speak and is sure to feature in the coming ISL season in a big way.

#4 Elano – 12 goals

Chennaiyin’s hope was Elano

A name that is familiar to football fans the world over is that of Elano. The star midfielder played a major role in Manchester City’s midfield and arrived at the Etihad Stadium with huge pedigree. The Brazilian made 62 appearances for the Sky Blues even scoring 14 times. But his ISL career was where Indian fans really took to the player. Having joined the league as Chennaiyin’s marquee player in 2014, Elano lit up the league with 8 goals in just 11 appearances for his new club and firmly established himself in the fan’s hearts.

A return to the Tamil Nadu capital saw much appreciation from fans but ending with a total tally of 12 goals was not bad at all for a player who isn’t a natural goalscorer. Elano ended his career with a stint in his native Brazilian club Santos.

#3 Jeje Lalpekhlua – 13 goals

ISL’s mercurial talent

Jeje has emerged as one of the brightest young talents Indian football has ever seen. The 26-year-old has firmly cemented his place in the Indian national team and was one of the leading lights in an impressive recent run of results for the national side, taking India to 96 in the FIFA rankings. His good form has continued in the ISL as well with the North East native scoring a total of 13 overall goals in the league so far.

Chennaiyin have been largely dependent on the pace, skill and finishing ability of a player who never seems to run out of ideas. The mercurial talent has now become one of India’s highest earning players and continues to rule the roost at Chennai’s biggest club.

#2 Stiven Mendoza – 17 goals

Mendoza has lit up the ISL

Stiven Mendoza is a name that has become synonymous with goals in Indian football. His 2014 arrival at Chennaiyin was arguably overshadowed by the likes of Elano but very soon the Chennai faithful realised that this particular Colombian had something about him. He only made nine appearances in his first season but his four goals in that period meant that a return was soon on the cards.

A 2015 loan spell back at Chennaiyin proved to be a spectacular decision as he scored a whopping 13 goals in 16 ISL appearances, taking Chennaiyin to the pinnacle of Indian football. The player now plies his trade elsewhere but is fondly remembered by all those who follow the cash-rich Indian league.

#1 Iain Hume – 23 goals

All time greatest goal scorer in the league

Topping the charts unsurprisingly is talismanic striker Iain Hume. A goal-scoring machine since the ISL began in 2014, Hume’s impressive showing with Kerala Blasters saw him score 5 goals in 16 appearances in ISL-1. A big-money move to Atletico de Kolkata saw the Canadian duplicate his magic with the Blasters and he has scored 18 goals in 30 games for the Kolkata outfit in two seasons.

Hume has been etched in ISL folklore and regardless of his future in the country, he will be remembered for his tremendous contribution to the game in India.

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Edited by Staff Editor