If you came here to know who bagged the ISL Golden Boot 2026, here’s the short answer straight up: Youssef Ezzejjari of East Bengal won the ISL 2025-26 Golden Boot with 11 goals in 13 matches, edging out Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s Jamie Maclaren in a race that went right down to the wire. For the freshest goal tallies and any post-season corrections, always cross-check the ISL live score page, but that’s the headline you were looking for.
Now let’s get into the full story, because this was one of the most unusual and dramatic ISL seasons in a while.
Why the ISL 2025-26 Golden Boot Race Felt Different
Let me be honest as a fan first. This season was strange from the very start.
The 2025-26 campaign got delayed massively due to the well-documented FSDL–AIFF contractual standoff, and it only kicked off on 14 February 2026 before wrapping up by 21 May 2026. That meant a shorter, more compressed calendar. Fewer matches, tighter margins, and a Golden Boot race where every single goal carried extra weight.
In a normal season, a striker might have 20-plus games to build up a tally. This time, players had roughly 13 league games to make their case. So the man who stayed sharp, fit, and clinical in a short window was always going to come out on top. That man was Ezzejjari.
ISL Golden Boot 2026: Final Top Scorers List
Here’s the confirmed top scorers table for the 2025-26 season. These numbers reflect the league campaign as reported by ESPN, NDTV Sports and the official league sources. If you spot a slightly different figure anywhere, treat the ISL live score and official stats page as the final word.
| Rank | Player | Club | Matches | Goals |
| 1 | Youssef Ezzejjari | East Bengal | 13 | 11 |
| 2 | Jamie Maclaren | Mohun Bagan SG | 13 | 10 |
| 3 | Nsungusi Effiong | Punjab FC | 12 | 7 |
| 4 | Dejan Drazic | FC Goa | 12 | 6 |
| 5 | Alfred Planas | Inter Kashi | 13 | 5 |
| 6 | Matija Babovic | Sporting Club Delhi | 11 | 5 |
| 7 | Ryan Williams | Bengaluru FC | 12 | 4 |
| 8 | Lallianzuala Chhangte | Mumbai City FC | 13 | 4 |
| 9 | Victor Bertomeu | Kerala Blasters | 10 | 4 |
| 10 | Edmund Lalrindika | East Bengal | 11 | 4 |
A few things jump out from this list.
Ezzejjari and Maclaren were basically in a two-horse race for most of the run-in. One goal separated them at the end. That’s how thin the margin was.
Punjab FC’s Nsungusi Effiong deserves a big shout for finishing third, especially given the team he plays for isn’t one of the traditional heavyweights. And FC Goa’s Dejan Drazic being right up there tells you how much Manolo Marquez’s system relied on him for goals.
How Youssef Ezzejjari Won It for East Bengal
For East Bengal fans, this was a proper feel-good story. The club has had years of near-misses and heartbreak, so having their striker walk away with the Golden Boot meant a lot to the red-and-gold faithful.
Ezzejjari was consistent when it mattered. He didn’t just pad his numbers against weaker sides; he showed up in the big moments. Eleven goals in thirteen games is a strike rate of roughly 0.85 goals per match, which is genuinely elite in any league, let alone a shortened one.
Anyone who follows East Bengal closely will tell you the atmosphere at the Salt Lake Stadium lifts a striker. When 60,000-plus fans are roaring behind you, that extra half-yard of belief matters. Ezzejjari fed off it all season.
Jamie Maclaren’s Chase: So Close for Mohun Bagan
On the other side of the Kolkata divide, Jamie Maclaren gave Mohun Bagan SG everything. The Australian marksman finished on 10 goals, just one short.
Maclaren is a poacher in the classic sense. He lives on the shoulder of the last defender, and Bagan’s creative players kept feeding him. For a while it genuinely looked like he’d pip Ezzejjari. But that final push didn’t quite land.
For Mariners fans, it’s a bittersweet one. Their team stayed competitive right till the final day, but the individual prize slipped away by the finest of margins.
How the ISL Golden Boot Actually Works
For newer fans, here’s a quick, no-nonsense explainer.
The Golden Boot goes to the player who scores the most goals in the ISL league stage and playoffs combined. Own goals don’t count. Penalties do count as normal goals. If two players finish level on goals, the tiebreaker usually favours the player with fewer minutes played or more assists, depending on the season’s specific rules, so it pays to check the official criteria for that year.
The award is separate from the league title and separate from the Golden Glove (best goalkeeper) and the Emerging Player award. A striker can win the Golden Boot even if his team doesn’t lift the trophy, which happens more often than you’d think.
How to Track ISL Live Score and Golden Boot Updates in Real Time
Even though the 2025-26 season is done and dusted, plenty of fans still want live goal tracking, whether it’s for confirming stats or gearing up for the next campaign. Here’s how I personally keep tabs on it:
- Check a dedicated ISL live score page during matchdays. Goal updates typically refresh within seconds of the ball hitting the net. our ISL live score page.
- Cross-reference the points table to see how a striker’s goals are affecting his team’s standings and playoff hopes. our ISL points table page.
- Follow the official ISL website and AIFF for verified stats, since these are the primary sources everyone else pulls from. indiansuperleague.com
- Keep the fixtures page handy so you know exactly when your favourite striker is next in action.
A small honest tip from experience: during fast-paced matches, different sites can lag by a goal or two for a minute. When in doubt, refresh the ISL live score page rather than trusting a delayed notification.
What This Means Looking Ahead to ISL 2026-27
With the league structure stabilising and promotion-relegation now part of the picture, the next Golden Boot race should be fascinating. New clubs like the promoted and rebranded sides bring fresh attacking talent, and the traditional giants will look to arm their frontlines even better.
Will Ezzejjari defend his crown? Can Maclaren finally go one better? Will a homegrown Indian striker like Lallianzuala Chhangte or Rahim Ali break into the very top? These are exactly the questions that make following the ISL live score every matchday so addictive.
Why Trust Us / About the Author
This piece is written by a long-time Indian football follower who has tracked the ISL since its very first season back in 2014, watching matches week in and week out across every club rivalry from the Kolkata derby to the southern clashes. We rely only on verified data from the official Indian Super League website, AIFF, and established outlets like ESPN and NDTV Sports, and we update our figures whenever official numbers change. Our goal is simple: give you accurate, fan-friendly ISL coverage you can actually trust.
People Also Ask (FAQ)
Who won the ISL Golden Boot 2026?
Youssef Ezzejjari of East Bengal won the ISL 2025-26 Golden Boot with 11 goals in 13 matches, finishing one goal ahead of Jamie Maclaren.
How many goals did the ISL 2026 top scorer get?
The top scorer finished on 11 goals in a shortened, delayed season, which works out to an excellent strike rate of around 0.85 goals per game.
Who was the highest-scoring Indian player in ISL 2025-26?
Mumbai City FC’s Lallianzuala Chhangte was among the leading Indian goalscorers, finishing in the top ten of the overall scoring charts.
Why was the ISL 2025-26 season delayed?
The season was pushed back due to an unresolved contractual dispute between FSDL and the AIFF, which shortened the calendar considerably. It eventually ran from February to May 2026.
Does the ISL Golden Boot include playoff goals?
Yes. The Golden Boot counts goals from both the league stage and the playoffs combined. Own goals do not count, but penalties do.
Where can I see live ISL top scorer updates?
You can track live goal updates and the running Golden Boot standings on a dedicated ISL live score page, and verify them against the official ISL website.
Conclusion
So there you have it: the ISL Golden Boot 2026 belonged to Youssef Ezzejjari, with Jamie Maclaren agonisingly close behind in a shortened but thrilling season. From East Bengal’s celebration to Punjab FC’s Effiong announcing himself, this campaign gave us plenty to talk about despite all the off-field drama.
Football moves fast, and so do goal tallies. Bookmark our ISL live score page to catch every goal, every top-scorer update, and every twist in the next Golden Boot race the moment it happens. Stick with us, and you’ll never miss a beat of Indian football.