Unstoppable: Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Bergson Da Silva (left) vying for the ball with Sabah goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Many strikers slow down at 34 but not Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) prolific Brazilian hitman Bergson Da Silva, who fired a hattrick to become the Super League’s all-time top scorer with another sparkling performance on Sunday.
He has now hit 109 goals in just slightly more than four years - all with JDT since he joined the squad in March 2021.
And the ‘’mean machine’’ is far from done as Da Silva wants more.
Da Silva etched his name into history when he netted JDT’s sixth goal in the 61st minute against Sabah at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, surpassing Indra Putra Mahayuddin’s long-standing record of 106 goals since 2004.
That landmark strike took Bergson to 107 in the league but he did not stop there.
With typical ruthlessness, he added two more goals in the 74th and 92nd minutes to complete a hattrick, sealing JDT’s commanding 8-0 win and lifting his tally to 109.
After the final whistle, Bergson was visibly emotional as he reflected on his achievement and paid tribute to the people around him.
“Thanks to everyone who was and is part of this story,” he said.
“I’ve never imagined the records I’ve broken. I came here to help the team develop their idea and win trophies. But now I have done it, the records, I will look to more challenges with this team.
“This is not just mine, but also belongs to my teammates, coaches, the club, and the fans who have always supported me.
“As always, I will go for more. ‘Luaskan kuasamu’ (JDT’s slogan, which means spread your power).”
Bergson got his first league goal for JDT on March 13, 2021, when he scored against UiTM.
He was on-loan from Brazilian club Fortaleza at the time before signing permanently on May 19 that year.
Bergson has not looked back since, scoring 23 goals in the league that year - a club record for a single season.
In 2022, he broke the Super League record for the most goals in a league season with 29 goals, and in 2023, he thumped in 21 goals.
He raised the bar again in the 2024-2025 season when he scored 32 goals.
This season, Bergson has four goals in three games so far and expect more to come from him.
Despite the arrival of new strikers over the years, Bergson remains the main goal getter for the club but he refused to be compared with the other signings - present or past.
“I’m not competing with my teammates, whether it is Jairo Da Silva, Romel Morales or past players like Jorge Obregon or Diogo Santo, we all contribute to the club with goals or assists.
“The aim is to always help the team and the club move forward as one.”
JDT coach Xisco Munoz was effusive in his praise for his star striker, but also underlined the expectations moving forward.
“We have 34 players at a good level, and Bergson showed why he is the best scorer right now,” he said.
“I’m happy for him, and it is important for the strikers to score goals. If he continues this way, he can score 100 more. Achieving this milestone is not easy, but now we need him to maintain the same level for us this season.”
Bergson’s remarkable consistency has been the driving force behind JDT’s dominance in recent years, and his appetite for goals remains unquenchable.
For the Southern Tigers, the hope is that his record-breaking feats are just the beginning of another golden chapter.
