The Golden Boot award, given to the top scorer in the ISL is one of the most prestigious awards in India’s top-tier football league and after 13 game weeks of the Hero Indian Super League, the race for the 2021-22 Golden Boot is heating up. Currently, Hyderabad FC’s Bartholomew Ogbeche leads the way with twelve goals but with 6 games still remaining in the group stages, it’s hard to predict who will take home the golden boot at the end of the season.
Today at Man’s Life, we discuss who the contenders are, in the race for the Hero Indian Super League Golden Boot.
1. Bartholomew Ogbeche, Hyderabad FC
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Leading the way in the race for the Golden boot is Hyderabad FC’s Bartholomew Ogbeche. At the age of 37, some players prefer to hang up their boots but the Nigerian international obviously had other plans. After joining The Nizams earlier this season, Ogbeche has been in exceptional form and after 12 games this season, Ogbeche has scored twelve goals which include two braces and a stunning hattrick against SC East East Bengal in gameweek 12. The most interesting fact about his 12 goals this season is that all of them were from open play.
2. Igor Angulo, Mumbai City FC
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Trying to catch Ogbeche in the race is last season’s golden boot winner Igor Angulo. At the age of 38, Angulo has shown no signs of slowing down as he continues his goal-scoring form for a second season running. After 11 appearances this season, the Spaniard has bagged himself eight goals out of which two were penalties. Lately, The Islanders have been struggling in front of goal and the main reason behind it was the absence of Angulo in their squad. Now that he is back, he has his eyes set on getting back on his throne and chase down Ogbeche in the race.
3. Deshorn Brown, NorthEast United FC
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It won’t be an easy job for Angulo to take on Ogbeche in the race as he has the 31-year-old Jamaican center forward Deshorn Brown right on his tail. Brown who has just played seven matches already has six goals this season. Although The Highlanders sit second last on the table after playing 14 games, scoring goals has never been a problem for them and most of that credit goes to Deshorn Brown.
4. Greg Stewart, Jamshedpur FC
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Right behind Brown with five goals in eleven appearances is Jamsedpur FC’s captain Greg Stewart. The Scottish international is the only player in the race for the golden boot who is not a striker or a winger. His primary position is playing in center of the pitch but is often seen going up the field and making the most of his opportunities. To back his five goals, Stewart also has six assists to his name which takes his overall tally to 11 G/A in 11 appearances.
5. Liston Colaco, ATK Mohun Bagan FC
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Tied up with Stewart with five goals is one of our local boys Liston Colaco who has been exceptional for the Mariners this season. The 23-year-old winger is the only Indian player who is still in the race for the Golden Boot award. As things stand, ATK Mohun Bagan have only played 10 games so far (3 games postponed due to COVID) and have three games in hand on other teams which gives Liston Colaco every opportunity to go for the Golden Boot and become the first ever Indian to get his hands on the Hero Indian Super League Golden Boot Award.
[Featured Image Credit: ISL – Indian Super League]
Shashank Iyer