Forward scored 18 goals en route to winning the club’s first league trophy
CHARLOTTE, NC (October 26, 2026) – USL League One officially announced Monday that Charlotte Independence forward Souaibou Marou has been named the winner of the league’s 2026 Golden Boot award, becoming the first player in club history to earn the honor.
Marou enjoyed a record-breaking campaign, scoring a club single-season record 18 league goals while helping lead the Independence to their first trophy in club history. The Cameroonian surpassed teammate Enzo Martinez’s previous club record of 16 goals, set during the 2017 season. Marou finished two goals clear of Westchester midfielder Conor McGlynn to claim the league’s top goalscoring honor.
Marou’s prolific campaign spearheaded a historic Charlotte attack that scored an astonishing 74 regular-season goals, shattering the previous USL League One single-season scoring record.
In his second season with the Jacks, Marou quickly established himself as the team’s starting striker after being utilized primarily as a substitute in 2025. After scoring just once in his opening eight matches, the forward caught fire, finding the back of the net in four consecutive games as Charlotte embarked on a club-record eight-match winning streak. Marou continued his prolific form shortly thereafter, scoring six goals in a six-match span to surge to the top of the league’s scoring charts.
The Cameroonian saved some of his best performances for the final stretch of the campaign, scoring six goals in his final four matches. His remarkable season was highlighted by a hat trick on the road against Greenville Triumph, helping Charlotte clinch the club’s first Players’ Shield in a historic night for the Independence.
Marou and the Independence now head into the USL League One Playoffs with home-field advantage throughout. The Jacks kick off the postseason on Sunday night against FC Naples. Tickets are available here.
ABOUT CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE:
The Charlotte Independence is a Division III professional men’s soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club, founded in 2014, currently competes in USL League One and plays home games at American Legion Memorial Stadium and Mecklenburg County Sportsplex of Matthews. As part of the Queen City Soccer Club, our mission is to make Charlotte a better place to live through sports. For information on club news, season tickets and more, visit CharlotteIndependence.com.
