BRI Super League 2025-2026: Who Can Take the Top Scorer Title from the Brazilian Striker?

The dominance of foreign players from Brazil is directly proportional to their ability to secure the most prestigious individual title in Liga 1 Indonesia. The golden boot trophy, awarded to the top scorer, has consistently been given to strikers from the "Samba Nation" for the past three seasons.

For three consecutive seasons, three strikers from Brazil have alternately topped the list of the highest goal scorers in Indonesia's top-tier competition. This dominance began with Matheus Pato while playing for Borneo FC in the 2022-2023 season. He scored 25 goals.

At that time, Pato established himself as the first Brazilian player to win the golden boot in the era of Liga 1 Indonesia. In the history of professional leagues in Indonesia, which has been counted since the unification of Galatama and Perserikatan from 1994-1995, Pato is the second Brazilian player to hold the title of top scorer. He matched the record of Jacksen F Tiago.

Jacksen established himself as the first Brazilian player to top the scoring list in Indonesia during the 1996-1997 competition campaign. His collection of 26 goals for Persebaya Surabaya is a remarkable achievement for Jacksen.

After Pato, David da Silva perfected the championship title for Persib in the 2023-2024 season by becoming the top scorer. The stocky striker contributed 30 goals, which were a key factor in "Maung Bandung" securing their third Liga Indonesia title.

In the last season, Alex Martins from Dewa United continued the legacy of Brazilian striker supremacy. Thanks to his tally of 26 goals, Martins was awarded the prestigious golden boot trophy.

Undoubtedly, Martins remains the most favored player to top the goal-scoring chart in the Super League 2025-2025. Continuing to represent Dewa is an important asset for Martins to maintain his prolific scoring ability.

In addition to defending the same team, Coach Dewa Jan Olde Riekerink has proven to still rely on Martins as the main source of goals. Riekerink has instead strengthened Dewa's attacking line with players who can support the sharpness of the 32-year-old striker.

The presence of three serving forwards, Privat Mbarga, Stefano Lilipaly, and Rafael Struick, will facilitate Martins' role as poacher. Beyond those three, Martins will also be supported by his teammates from last season, Egy Maulana Vikri and Taisei Marukawa.

Meanwhile, Da Silva has parted ways with Persib. His declining fitness during the last season led to Da Silva being placed on the list of players excluded from the "Maung Bandung" squad. He concluded his chapter with Persib by scoring 74 goals in 118 matches.

Da Silva is ready to embark on a new adventure with Malut United. In the team that finished third last season, Da Silva is also surrounded by quality players who are already familiar with him. Notably, two former Persib players, Ciro Alves and Tyronne del Pino, who played significant roles in Persib's championship title last season.

The 35-year-old striker will also receive well-prepared assists from the duo Sayuri, Yakob, and Yance. The two twin players are undoubtedly the best versatile wingers in Indonesia at present.

"I am determined to achieve success with Malut United. The unity of all team elements is our key to pursuing the championship title," said Da Silva in an official statement.

While Martins and Da Silva will still be competing in Indonesia, Pato continues his career in the Thai League with Port FC.

The sharpness of the center forward from Brazil in the Indonesian League is akin to an anomaly. At the elite level, Brazil is currently experiencing a drought in the presence of sharp number nine players.

The competition among Brazilian forwards to top the goal-scoring chart is likely to continue. In addition to Martins and Da Silva, Brazil is also represented by the star striker of Persija Jakarta, Gustavo.

In two seasons of his career in Indonesia, Gustavo has consistently scored double-digit goals. He netted 16 goals in the 2023-2024 season, followed by 18 goals contributed to "Macan Kemayoran" in the 2024-2025 season.

Two debutant strikers from Brazil will also enliven the competition for the golden boot trophy. They are Alex Tanque from PSM Makassar and Ramon Tanque, who has become a new mainstay in the attacking line of Persib.

Both have the advantage of impressive sharpness in their previous clubs and leagues. Alex scored a total of 16 goals for Marsaxlokk in the 2024-2025 edition of the Malta League. Meanwhile, Ramon arrived with the title of top scorer in the Cambodian League last season, contributing 21 goals for Visakha.

Can any non-Brazilian players break that dominance in the 2025-2026 BRI Super League?

Certainly, there are several Brazilian strikers without passports who possess the individual quality to compete in the top scorers' list. One of them is Nermin Haljeta, the new star striker of the promoted team, PSIM Yogyakarta.

The collection of 12 goals for PSM in last season's Liga 1 briefly made Haljeta a new idol for fans of "Juku Eja." The sharpness of the player from Slovenia was also a reason why PSM could reach the semifinals of the ASEAN Club Championship. He scored four goals from six matches on the international stage.

Boris Kopitovic, a striker for Bali United from Montenegro, also has the opportunity to end the dominance of Brazilian strikers. Arriving in the second half of last season, he scored six goals in 15 appearances with the "Serdadu Tidatu."

Aside from those two players, there are five debutant forwards who have great potential to bring a new dynamic to the Indonesian Super League. The two forwards belong to the promoted team, Bhayangkara Presisi Lampung FC, namely Shayder Borgelin and Andres Nieto.

Borgelin, holding a Haitian passport, arrived with a collection of eight goals for Vendsyssel FF in the domestic competition of Denmark 2024-2025. Meanwhile, Nieto is a key goal scorer for Phnom Penh Crown.

Nieto, born in Colombia, but already holding a Cambodian passport. He shared the golden boot trophy with Ramon Tanque in the Cambodian League last season.

Persik Kediri has also brought in a sharp striker named Sylvain Atieda from France. He scored 27 goals in 42 matches with FC Rodange 91 in the Luxembourg League over the past two seasons.

Similar to Bali, Persebaya Surabaya also relies on a center forward from Montenegro. "Bajul Ijo" has contracted Mihailo Perovic, who scored 16 goals with FK Jezero in the 2024-2025 edition of the Montenegro League.

There is one name that has the potential to be a dark horse in the competition for the top scorer title. He is Kodai Tanaka from Persis Solo.

The Japanese striker arrived in Indonesia after scoring 72 goals in 74 matches during three seasons of his career in Singapore. In two exhibition matches against Kendal Tornado and Malut United, Tanaka has netted three goals for "Laskar Sambernyawa."

"In the midst of Indonesia's vibrant football culture, I will prove myself through results, namely goals," said Tanaka in his first statement when introduced as a new player for Persis on July 4.

Amid the arrival of quality foreign forwards, local strikers will still find it difficult to compete. Not to mention competing for the top scorer list, local forwards will also struggle to secure regular playing time at their respective clubs. As a result, Boaz Solossa will remain the last local player to have won the golden boot in the 2012-2013 season.