When NorthEast United FC signed Alaaeddine Ajaraie, few could’ve predicted the numbers he’d put up. 23 goals, seven assists. More goals than what some entire clubs managed - all in a single season. Ajaraie didn’t just make his mark; he became the benchmark.

The Moroccan striker rewrote the script of what a foreign forward could achieve in Indian football. For a club that’s spent most of its existence as an underdog, NorthEast United FC found an unlikely superhero in a left-footed wizard from Morocco. And although the Highlanders' journey ended in the playoffs, it’s obvious they wouldn’t have made it that far without their charismatic talisman leading the line.

On Saturday, Ajaraie was honoured with both the ISL Golden Boot and the Golden Ball awards, becoming just the third player in league history after Stiven Mendoza and Ferran Corominas to win both in the same season.

Here’s a look back at a season that was, by all measures, record-breaking.

A dream start

Ajaraie didn’t need time to settle. He hit the ground not just running, but sprinting. In NEUFC’s opening eight matches, he scored in every single one. He matched Kalu Uche’s record of scoring in eight successive matches and became the fastest player to reach 10 goals in a single ISL season.

That streak alone of 11 goals and four assists would’ve been considered a great season in ISL terms. Bengaluru FC forward Sunil Chhetri finished behind Ajaraie with 14 goals and two assists, but with 15 goal contributions in eight games, that was the impact Ajariae had made.

Fans started showing up just to watch him play. He was the kind of player that made you believe anything was possible when he had the ball at his feet. The kind of player that made neutrals root for NorthEast United FC.

Goals from everywhere, everyhow

Ajaraie wasn’t just prolific. He was unpredictable, versatile and downright ruthless. One week, he’d curl one in from outside the box. Next week, a bullet header. Then a cheeky dink. Then a scrappy tap-in in the six-yard box. Defenders simply didn’t know what to expect.

Ajaraie’s game wasn’t about tricks or flashy footwork. It was about substance. Smart movement. Knowing where to be and when. An uncanny ability to find space. He wasn't overly fast, but he timed his runs like a seasoned chess master.

He could finish with both feet, hold up the ball when needed, and had the touch of a ballerina when it came to controlling the ball under pressure. NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali gave him the freedom to roam; sometimes on the left, sometimes through the middle. It didn’t matter. Wherever Ajaraie popped up, goals followed.

The playoff heartbreak

Every fairy tale has its twist. For Ajaraie, that came in their knockout match against Jamshedpur FC. In front of a buzzing crowd in Shillong, NorthEast United FC gave it their all. The team created endless chances and fired 21 shots, but scored none. Ajaraie hit the post, missed a sitter, and just couldn’t find his usual clinical touch.

NorthEast United FC’s dream run ended that night. But the bigger story was this: without Ajaraie at his best, they simply didn’t have enough to carry on. It was a harsh reminder of how dependent the team had become on one man.

By the end of the season, Ajaraie’s numbers were outrageous. He had bagged 23 goals in 25 games. That’s a goal every 98 minutes. He also added seven assists, meaning he had a direct hand in 30 of NEUFC’s goals. To put that in perspective, the team scored 46 in total, and he was involved in 65% of their goals. And if you removed Ajaraie from the equation, one would wonder if the Highlanders would be in the table.

Instead, they finished fourth, making the playoffs and narrowly missing out on the semi-final.

Breaking records for fun

Ajaraie didn’t just lead the charts, he dominated them and wrote new records along the way. With 23 goals, he set a new record for the most goals in a single ISL season, breaking Ferran Corominas’ previous record of 18 goals in a season. His performances were nothing short of sensational, as he also topped the league for most goal contributions with 30, once again breaking Corominas’ record of 23 goal contributions, another prominent record. The Moroccan’s relentless attacking drive saw him take 47 shots which were on target. His conversion rate was extraordinary with nearly half of his shots on target finding the net.

His heroics also saw him become NorthEast United FC’s all-time top scorer in a single season, taking over from Bartholomew Ogbeche, another ISL icon.

The Genie of the Highlands

Every season, the ISL throws up a few breakout stars. But what Alaaeddine Ajaraie did in the 2024-25 campaign has been a full-blown blockbuster. NorthEast United FC might have fallen just short after winning the Durand Cup, but they gave us a season to remember, spearheaded by a striker who played like he had magic in his boots.

No Genie or magic lamps needed. Just Ajaraie. And that was more than enough.

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Alaaeddine AjaraieNorthEast United FC2024-2025