As the Indian Super League enters the Semi-Finals, it’s a great time to look at this seasons top goal scorers. This list was determined using the following criteria: total goals, total assists, and least minutes played.
10. Elano Blumer
MATCHES 13
GOALS 4
ASSISTS 4
MINUTES PLAYED 901
Elano Blumer started out as talented midfielder at Santos, helping take the team all the way to the Brazilian Series A title. When he moved to Shakhtar Donetsk, he won back-to-back league titles. At Manchester City, he registered 14 goals and 11 assists in 62 Premier League appearances. He was part of the squads that won Copa America [2007] and FIFA Confederations Cup [2009], and he was the top-scorer in Hero ISL 2014 with 8 goals.
Career Highlights
- Winner, FIFA Confederations Cup 2009; Copa America 2007 (Brazil)
- Winner, Ukrainian Premier League 2004/05 & 2005/06 (Shaktar Donetsk)
- Golden Boot winner in Compeonato Paulista 2011 with Santos
9. Nicolas Leandro Velez
MATCHES 14
GOALS 5
ASSISTS 1
MINUTES PLAYED 806
Argentinian player, Nicolas Leandro Velez, learned the sport at the acclaimed River Plate youth academy spending the earlier part of his career playing with with Atlético Huracán (Argentina), Atlético Sanluqueño (Spain) and Warriors FC (Singapore) before joining the Highlanders.
Career Highlights
- Winner, 2014 S League (Warriors FC)
- Winner, S Leagur Young Player of the Year Award in 2014
- Winner, Singapore Charity Shield Award in 2015
8. Arata Izumi
MATCHES 9
GOALS 5
ASSISTS 1
MINUTES PLAYED 536
Arata Izumi was born in Japan, but his career started in Singapore in 2005 with Albirex Nigata. He returned to Japan for some time to join Mitsubishi Motors Muzushima FC in the 2006 J-League, but his dream was always to play for India. He came to India to play for East Bengal in 2006, and when he moved to Mahindra United in 2007 and later joined Pune FC, he achieved the role of captain. In August of 2012, he recieved Indian citizenship and made his debut for India in 2013. Izumi also has an Indian name: Neelkanth Khambholja.
Career Highlights
- First foreign-born to ever play for India when he debuted in 2013
- Captained Pune FC in the 2014 Federation Cup
7. Jeje Lalpekhlua
MATCHES 8
GOALS 5
ASSISTS 2
MINUTES PLAYED 625
In Jeje Lalpekhlua’s first season of the Hero ISL in 2014, he scored four goals, the most by any Indian. In 2007 he was signed for Pune FC before spending 2010-11 with the Indian Arrows where he scored 13 goals in 15 games. Back in Pune FC the following season and later Dempo, he finally moved to Mohun Bagan where he won the Hero I-League in his first year with the Mariners.
Career Highlights
- FPAI Young Player of the Year in 2011
- Scored four goals in ISL 2014, the most by any Indian
- Winner, I-League 2014-15 (Mohun Bagan)
6. Chris Dagnall
MATCHES 13
GOALS 6
ASSISTS 2
MINUTES PLAYED 1034
Chris Dagnall was born in Liverpool and started his career playing in 414 club appearances for clubs such as Rochdale, Scunthorpe, and Barnsley. He scored 4 goals in 11 appearances in the FA Cup for various teams, and his top scores include 11 goals and 6 assist in 38 matches for Leyton Orient.
Career Highlights
- Leyton Orient top scorer in 2014/15 season with 11 goals and 6 assists
- Scored 4 goals in 11 FA Cup appearances
5. Antonio German
MATCHES 9
GOALS 6
ASSISTS 3
MINUTES PLAYED 544
Antonio German learned the sport through the Queens Park Rangers youth setup before playing on loan with several lower tier English football teams. He scored 2 goals in 16 Football League Championship matches for QPR.
Career Highlights
- Scored 2 goals in 16 Football League Championship for QPR
4. Sunil Chhetri
MATCHES 11
GOALS 7
ASSISTS 1
MINUTES PLAYED 990
Sunil Chhetri has become a household name in India and is one of a handful of Indian players to have played professionally outside the country, including playing in Major League Soccer for the Kansas City Wizards and Sporting Clube de Portugal B team. He is India’s all-time leading scorer with 47 international goals in 81 international matches.
Career Highlights
- 3 x Winner, I-League 2013/14 (Bengaluru FC); 2012/13 (Churchill Brothers); 2009/10 (Dempo SC)
- Winner, AFC Challenge Cup 2008 (India)
- 2 x Winner, Nehru Cup 2009, 2012 (India)
3. Reinaldo Da Cruz Oliveira
MATCHES 10
GOALS 7
ASSISTS 4
MINUTES PLAYED 775
Reinaldo Da Cruz Oliveira is an experienced player who has been involved in the sport since 1997 playing for various teams. He was a part of PSG’s Champions League squad in 2004/05. He was with Brazilian club EC Internacional when FC Goa decided to bring him onto the Indian Super League.
Career Highlights
- Member of PSG Champions League side (2004/05)
- Won the Korean FA Cup with Suwon Bluewings (2010)
2. Iain Hume
MATCHES 14
GOALS 10
ASSISTS 4
MINUTES PLAYED 1251
Scottish-born Canadian international striker, Iain Hume, started the sport in the youth ranks at Tranmere Rovers and made his way up to the senior setup. In the 2004–05 campaign he finished top scorer for Tranmere with 16 goals. He then moved to Leicester City and then Barnsley. He was instrumental in getting Kerala Blasters FC to the finals of last year’s Hero ISL with 5 goals and 3 assists earning him the Hero Player of the Tournament.
Career Highlights
- Goal for Leicester vs Watford in 2007-2008 in the Championship was voted goal of the season
- Top scorer for Leicester City in the 2007-2008 Championship
- Most Valuable Player, ISL 2014
1. John Stiven Mendoza Valencia
MATCHES 13
GOALS 11
ASSISTS 2
MINUTES PLAYED 949
Columbian forward, John Stiven Mendoza Valencia tops the list. Mendoza rose through the ranks of local clubs like Deportivo Cali, Envigado FC, América de Cali and Cúcuta Deportivo and was part of the Colombian squad which finished fourth in the 2009 Under-17 FIFA World Cup.
After joining Chennaiyin FC last season, he had scored four goals in nine matches before an injury cut his season short.
Career Highlights
- Winner, Super League Colombia 2014 (Deportivo Cali)
- Finished fourth in the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup Colombia
- Semi-finalist ISL 2014 (Chennaiyin FC)
There are only 5 games left in the season, so don’t forget to tune in for this exciting race to the finals.
Remaining games:
When: Friday, Dec 11th at 19:00 IST
What: Semi-Final 1 (1st Leg)
Who: Delhi Dynamos FC vs FC Goa
Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
When: Saturday, Dec 12th at 19:00 IST
What: Semi-Final 2 (1st Leg)
Who: Chennaiyin FC vs Atlético de Kolkata
Where: Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium
When: Tuesday, Dec 15th at 19:00 IST
What: Semi-Final 1 (2nd Leg)
Who: FC Goa vs Delhi Dynamos FC
Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda
When: Wednesday, Dec 16th at 19:00 IST
What: Semi-Final 2 (2nd Leg)
Who: Atlético de Kolkata vs Chennaiyin FC
Where: Salt Lake Stadium
When: Sunday, Dec 20th at 19:00 IST
What: Final
Who: TBD vs TBD
Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda
