ISL 2025-26 Top Scorer: Youssef Ezzejjari leads Golden Boot glory as East Bengal FC lift the ISL title
Mohun Bagan forward Jamie Maclaren finish second on the podium
The Indian Super League 2025-26 season has started with new hope for Indian football. As the league has come to an end, East Bengal FC has been crowned as the ISL 2025-26 Champions after they beat Inter Kashi FC with a score line of 2-1. The Red and Gold Brigade staged a dramatic comeback as the 22-year drought was eliminated from their end. Mohun Bagan also won their game against SC Delhi, but they weren’t able to clinch another ISL title.
In this new format, any point loss will be a key miss for any team, where they could try to gain the important points by scoring a ton of goals and making the team’s defence stand still.
For East Bengal FC, their main firehouse in the forward line is Youssef Ezzejjari, who won the golden boot for them as he bagged 11 goals this season. Against Inter Kashi FC his equaliser was the one sign of relief for all East Bengal fans.
Jamie Maclaren finished second on the podium with 10 goals, just one goal behind the Moroccan striker. He also scored a goal in their last match against SC Delhi, but that goal didn’t change their fortune.
East Bengal FC’s Youssef and Maclaren from Mohun Bagan are the top two with their respective goal numbers. Followed by them, Dezan Drazic scored six goals.
Punjab FC forward Effiong rises from the ashes, as he is in the third position, having scored seven goals for The Shers.
In the Indian Super League, many players have stepped up early to score as much as possible. Several attackers and midfielders have started their journey towards the ISL Golden Boot to prove their worth and help their respective teams win the league title.
But at the end of the ISL 2025-26, East Bengal made their last laugh, and Youssef bagged the Golden Boot.
Drazic with six goals
As the league has come to an end, traditionally, many players stand out very highly to prove themselves. Dezan Drazic made his name in the list. The Striker who played for Celta Vigo once, FC Goa Striker Dezan Drazic, is performing day in and day out for The Gaurs in the ISL.
He scored six goals for FC Goa, keeping the pressure on the leaders. His ability to find the net regularly has played a key role in their team’s attacking performances in the ISL.
Drazic’s ability to operate across the forward line, combined with his technical skills and creativity, has allowed him to influence games in multiple ways. If you need a goal, you can call him anytime, and he will deliver by scoring goals or creating chances for teammates, who have proven to be a valuable asset for FC Goa.
Delhi’s Babovic and Alfred Moya strikes five times in the ISL
Matija Babovic will be the player to watch out for in the ISL in the upcoming years, probably. His attacking intent and presence are the most important things that could haunt the opposition defence. He can be effective at home by using his physical presence and technical control, as his ball control is very sharp and clean. He scored five goals for SC Delhi. He has been an amazing link-up player for the Capital side of the ISL.
Matija might open the space for players like Joseph Sunny, and then Delhi easily takes those chances and converts them. Along with Matija, a striker like Joseph Sunny, who has a knack for his forward movement and positioning in the final third, will create problems.
How can we forget about Inter Kashi FC’s main man, Alfred Planas Moya, who also netted the ball five times. He was the threat to Oscar Bruzon as they faced the Banaras side. From the first phase of the game, Moya created some good chances, making those runs into the half space and bagging some niddles in the mid block areas for SC Delhi. In the 14th minute of the he scored the first goal against East Bengal FC, which somehow haunted the Red and Gold Brigade in the first half.
Effiong Nsungusi shines for Punjab FC
On the other hand, Punjab FC foreigner Effiong Nsungusi also has seven goals under his name. His aerial presence and physicality make him different from others. The Nigerian forward has already delivered important goals for his team, which makes him a constant threat to the opponents.
Jamie Maclaren finish second on the podium
Currently sitting in the second spot of the Indian Super League Golden Boot race, Jamie Maclaren is the prolific striker from Mohun Bagan SG. The Australian forward has again shown his class by scoring a hat-trick against Odisha FC. He has enjoyed a sensational start to the campaign, scoring nine goals this season till now.
But as the league has ended, Mohun Bagan SG finished their ISL journey in the second spot after East Bengal FC lifted the trophy after 22 long years. As we can say openly, the Mariners might not have full control this season with their matches. But they tried, and the main power came from Jamie Macalren, who proved himself in every possible way.
He scored the last goal against SC Delhi in the 90+8′ minute, which gave them the needed win, but the win over Inter Kashi by East Bengal eliminated the ISL dream of Mohun Bagan SG.
His sharp movement inside the penalty area, intelligent positioning and clinical finishing have been the key factors behind his goal-scoring ability. Time and time again, he has converted half-chances into goals that made him one of the most dangerous attackers in the Indian Super League.
Youssef Ezzejjari with the Golden Boot
East Bengal FC has done something different in this ISL season. With a lot of expectations from the Moshal fans, East Bengal FC has started their journey after constant heartbreak and poor results. Under the guidance of Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon, they have been really impressive this season, which has allowed them to become the ISL 2025-26 Champions. Oscar Bruzon’s boys have done it after 22 years. East Bengal, led by Oscar Bruzon, became champions of India after 22 years. And it can’t be possible without Youssef.
Youssef Ezzejjari topped the ISL Golden Boot race with 11 goals under his belt, as he scored a brilliant brace against the Juggernauts in their past fixtures and also scored a penalty against Mumbai City. He scored ten times for the Red and Gold Brigade. And a calm and composed finish in their title-defining clash against Inter Kashi FC.
He has been a key figure for the team. The forward has displayed the pace and excellent finishing ability inside the box. His goals have come at crucial moments, helping the Kolkata-based club remain competitive in their early fixtures.
His performance against Mohammedan SC, where East Bengal FC scored a record seven goals against the Black Panthers, was really the reason for his race-leading instinct. Also, he scored against Odisha FC.
Against Mohun Bagan SG in the Kolkata Derby, Oscar Bruzon used him as a late substitute, and after coming from the bench, he didn’t show that much attacking threat.
Inter Kashi FC started the second half with the same narrow approach, as the East Bengal players suffered a lot to find those spaces. But the wait has to be over, as the main man of East Bengal FC, Youssef Ezzejjari, equalised in the 50th minute of the game. A designated ball from Anwar Ali opened the defence, and Youssef calmly slotted the goal.
Players with the most goals in ISL 2025-26:
- Youssef Ezzejjari (East Bengal) – 11 goals
- Jamie Maclaren (Mohun Bagan SG) – 10 goals
- Effiong Nsungusi (Punjab FC) – 7 goals
- Dejan Drazic (FC Goa) – 6 goals
- Matija Babović (Sporting Delhi) – 5 goals
- Alfred Planas Moya ( Inter Kashi ) – 5 goals
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Rohit Mistri is a sports journalist from Kolkata with over two years of experience in the field. He has extensively covered Indian football, including major tournaments such as the Calcutta Football League and the Indian Super League. His work spans on-ground reporting, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling, along with interviews of prominent sporting personalities. Rohit brings strong communication skills and a deep passion for sports narratives to everything he writes.