Scoring goals might sound simple, but consistently finding the back of the net for an entire season requires immense dedication, effort, discipline, and determination, and this is what separates the Indian Super League (ISL) Golden Boot winners from the rest of the goalscorers in the league.

Awarded to the top goalscorer in each season, the Golden Boot is widely cherished as the ultimate, elusive, and distinctive merit for a goalscorer. Over the years, the ISL has witnessed quite the drama, camaraderie, and intensity in the race for the Golden Boot.

Here’s a look at all the Golden Boot winners in ISL so far.

2014 - Elano Blumer (Chennaiyin FC) - 8 goals in 11 matches

The 2010 FIFA World Cup star was an instant hit in the inaugural edition of the ISL, having guided Chennaiyin FC to the semi-final with some sensational football along the way. With eight strikes in 11 matches, Elano played a pivotal role in Marina Machans’ campaign, as they finished at the top spot in the league table. After a two-year stint in the ISL, Elano parted ways with the club after the 2016 season.

2015 - Stiven Mendoza (Chennaiyin FC) - 13 goals in 16 matches

It was yet another player from Chennaiyin FC that lit up the ISL stage. Stiven Mendoza took the game to the next level as he struck 13 times in 16 matches to steer Chennaiyin FC to their first-ever ISL Cup win. The Colombian sniper scored a stoppage-time goal in the final against FC Goa to script the one of the most dramatic end to an ISL season. Taking a similar route as his teammate Elano, Mendoza left the club after the 2016 edition.

Also Read: An eye for the goal: A look at the top scoring teams in each Hero ISL season

2016 - Marcelo Pereira (Delhi Dynamos FC) - 10 goals in 15 matches

Popularly known as Marcelinho, the Brazilian talisman produced magic in his debut ISL season, striking 10 times for the then Delhi Dynamos FC besides chipping in five assists as well, helping his team qualify for the semi-finals for their second consecutive season. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed as his goalscoring exploits as a versatile forward received plentiful acclaim in the league from managers, pundits, and players too.

2017/18 - Ferran Corominas (FC Goa) - 18 goals in 20 matches

Corominas became an instant fan favourite among the Gaurs after he put up a scintillating show with a staggering 18 goals in his debut season. Coro fell right in place and was in sync under the system of former FC Goa head coach Sergio Lobera. Spearheading the FC Goa attack, the Spanish forward effortlessly shipped in goals and made quite a name for himself not just at the Goan club but also in the ISL.

2018/19 - Ferran Corominas (FC Goa) - 16 goals in 20 matches

Galloping in the ISL with already one Golden Boot to his name, Coro found it plain sailing to add another one in the bag, this time with 16 goals in the season. Being the only player to win back-to-back Golden Boots in the ISL till date, the Spaniard continued to shimmer in the Goan colours, this time manoeuvring his team to their second-ever ISL final. The Spaniard ended his tenure in the following season as one of the top scorers in the league with 48 goals to his name and left as an FC Goa legend.

2019/20 - Nerijus Valskis (Chennaiyin FC) - 15 goals in 16 matches

Arguably the most intense and closely-contested race for Golden Boot in the history of the ISL which concluded with Chennaiyin FC striker Nerijus Valskis returning the crown back to the Marina Machans for the 2019-20 season. A three-legged race followed between Nerijus Valskis, Roy Krishna, and Bartholomew Ogbeche - all tied at 15 goals at the end of the season.

But according to the official Hero ISL rulebook followed for that season, if two or more players are tied for goals scored at the end of the season, the weightage will fall on the assists provided by the respective players. And if the respective players tie on both goals as well as assists, then the player having lesser minutes claims the honour.

In this scenario, Ogbeche departed out of the race having just one assist to his name while Valskis and Krishna were both tied at 15 goals and six assists, with the former claiming the Golden Boot having played a game less than Krishna - all determined on the last day of the season, in the ISL 2019-20 final where Valskis scored a goal and Roy Krishna provided an assist.

Also Read: The chief orchestrators: Players who have made the most number of passes in Hero ISL history

2020/21 - Igor Angulo (FC Goa) - 14 goals in 21 matches

Angulo had a major influence for the Gaurs in the 2020-21 campaign, the forward played a decisive role with his 14 goals in the season. The Spaniard shared his goal tally with Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s Roy Krishna till the last day of the season, with the latter competing for the coveted award in the ISL 2020-21 final.

As the rules were rectified, if two or more players shared the same number of goals scored, the player with lesser played minutes would be awarded the Golden Boot, which in this case was claimed by Angulo, having played two games less than his MBSG counterpart.

2021/22 - Bartholomew Ogbeche (Hyderabad FC) - 18 goals in 20 matches

A veteran in the ISL, Bartholomew Ogbeche thrived under Hyderabad FC head coach Manuel Marquez. He scored an astonishing 18 goals in 20 games, often coming clutch in crucial moments and turning the tide in his team’s favour. The Nigerian striker proved to be an irreplaceable asset in Hyderabad FC’s title-winning campaign, helping them lift the ISL Cup. Even at 37, and despite switching clubs, Ogbeche continued to prove his quality. He netted 10 goals the following season, once again hitting double figures as Hyderabad FC reached the semi-finals, before departing the club in 2023.

2022/23 - Diego Mauricio (Odisha FC) - 23 goals in 25 matches

In 2022, Diego Mauricio returned to Odisha FC with unfinished business and he completed it in emphatic fashion. The Brazilian forward not only delivered one of the most impactful campaigns of his ISL career but also etched his name in the history books as the first Odisha FC player to win the Golden Boot.

During the 2022-23 season, Mauricio finished as the league’s joint-top scorer alongside Cleiton Silva (East Bengal FC) and Dimitri Petratos (Mohun Bagan Super Giant), but clinched the Golden Boot thanks to a superior minutes-per-goal ratio. Beyond goals, Mauricio also contributed a team-high four assists.

Mauricio followed up with another strong season in the 2023-24 campaign, scoring 11 goals and assisting once in 23 games, narrowly behind Roy Krishna in the club’s scoring charts, who netted 13 goals from 25 matches. Even in his final ISL campaign during the 2024-25 season, he was the club's top scorer with nine goals and provided six assists, being involved in 15 of Odisha FC’s strikes during a season where they ranked among the top-scoring sides. The Brazilian parted ways with the club at the end of 2024-25 season, leaving behind silverware in the form of the Kalinga Super Cup and a lasting legacy as one of Odisha FC’s greatest ever players.

2023/24 - Dimitrios Diamantakos (Kerala Blasters FC) - 13 goals in 17 matches

The ISL 2023-24 season saw one of the tightest Golden Boot races in league history, with nine players reaching double digits in goals. At the top of that list were Kerala Blasters FC’s Dimitrios Diamantakos and Odisha FC’s Roy Krishna, both finishing with 13 goals. However, it was Diamantakos who edged ahead to claim the Golden Boot, having played significantly fewer matches, just 17 compared to Krishna’s 25.

With playmaker Adrian Luna sidelined for much of the campaign, the Greek striker shouldered the attacking burden and rose to the occasion. He became Kerala Blasters FC’s focal point in the final third, delivering consistently and decisively throughout the season. Alongside his 13 goals, Diamantakos also chipped in with three assists, helping the Blasters secure a third consecutive playoff appearance.

Although an injury during the final stretch of the league phase ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign, his impact was undeniable. Diamantakos’ efficient, clinical performances not only earned him the Golden Boot but also solidified his role as KBFC’s most potent attacking weapon of the season.

2024/25 - Alaaeddine Ajaraie (NorthEast United FC) - 23 goals in 25 matches

In his breakout ISL season, Alaaeddine Ajaraie lit up the league with a staggering 23 goals and seven assists in just 25 appearances, directly contributing to 30 of NorthEast United FC’s 46 goals in the league stage. This remarkable tally didn’t just secure him the Golden Boot; it also set a new record for the most goal contributions in a single ISL campaign.

Under the guidance of Juan Pedro Benali, NorthEast United evolved into one of the league’s most formidable attacking outfits, finishing the league phase with the second-highest goal count. At the heart of this transformation was Ajaraie, whose consistency and cutting edge up front powered the Highlanders into the ISL playoffs for the first time in four years.

Capping off a sensational season, Ajaraie claimed both the ISL Golden Boot and the Golden Ball, becoming only the third player in ISL history to achieve this prestigious double in the same season.

Related tags:

Alaaeddine Ajaraie2024-2025 Marcelo PereiraNerijus ValskisIgor AnguloBartholomew OgbecheDiego MauricioFerran CorominasElano BlumerJohn Stiven Mendoza ValenciaDimitrios Diamantakos