The 2025/26 Betway Premiership has entered its decisive final stretch, and while the team title is still being contested, a “mad scramble” has erupted for individual glory. The race for the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot is intensifying as South Africa’s elite marksmen fight for the right to be called the deadliest striker in the land.
Last season, Mamelodi Sundowns’ Lucas Ribeiro Costa set the pace with 16 goals. This year, the chasing pack is led by a standout performer from Durban, though the “unbreakable” record of 25 goals—set by Collins Mbesuma in 2004/05—remains safe for another decade.
The Double-Digit Elite
As it stands, only three players have managed to break into double digits this campaign:
- Junior Dion (Golden Arrows): The current pace-setter with 13 goals. Dion has been the driving force behind Abafana Bes’thende’s season, showing remarkable consistency in front of goal.
- Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns): Sitting just one behind with 12 goals, Rayners is hunting his first Golden Boot in Sundowns colors.
- Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates): The young sensation has officially arrived on the scoring stage, sitting in third place with 10 goals and leading the charge for the Buccaneers.
Betway Premiership Leading Scorers: Official Top 10
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Junior Dion | Golden Arrows | 13 |
| 2 | Iqraam Rayners | Mamelodi Sundowns | 12 |
| 3 | Relebohile Mofokeng | Orlando Pirates | 10 |
| T4 | Oswin Appollis | Orlando Pirates | 8 |
| T4 | Bradley Grobler | Sekhukhune United | 8 |
| T6 | Langelihle Phili | Stellenbosch FC | 7 |
| T6 | Flávio Silva | Kaizer Chiefs | 7 |
| T8 | Sinoxolo Kwayiba | Chippa United | 6 |
| T8 | Patrick Maswanganyi | Orlando Pirates | 6 |
| T8 | Tashreeq Matthews | Mamelodi Sundowns | 6 |
| T8 | Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya | AmaZulu FC | 6 |
The Chasing Pack (5 Goals Each)
A massive logjam exists just outside the top ten, with several high-profile names hoping for a late-season flurry to climb the charts. Notably, Orlando Pirates dominate this bracket with four players currently on five goals, showcasing their balanced (if spread out) attacking threat.
- Kaizer Chiefs: Mduduzi Shabalala (5)
- Orlando Pirates: Evidence Makgopa, Yamela Mbuthuma, Tshepang Moremi (5)
- Stellenbosch FC: Tshegofatso Mabasa (5)
- Mamelodi Sundowns: Marcelo Allende, Brayan León (5)
- AmaZulu FC: Hendrick Eksteen, Athini Maqokola (5)
