Introduction
Football is a popular game, and it is played all over the world. It is a game of skills, strategy, energy, and physical fitness. Football is universal language that unites people across cultures and continents and it also brings understanding among the various countries participating in the game football.
There are many top competitions and top football players in the world. Here we’ll discuss top football players in India.
Top Football Players
Here some top football players are mentioned below:
Sunil Chhetri
The top football player in India is Sunil Chhetri who is the captain of the Indian football team and for team Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL). Chhetri is one of the best Indian footballers of all time.
During the 2019 Asian Cup, he achieved a significant milestone by scoring twice in the opening match against Thailand (in a 4-1 victory), propelling him to become India’s all-time top scorer with an impressive tally of 67 goals for the national team. Moreover, he holds the record for being the most-capped player in the team’s history.
Gurpreet Singh
One of the top Indian player Gurpreet Singh who represents India in international matches and serves as a goalkeeper for Bengaluru FC, accumulating over 50 appearances for the national team.
He achieved a significant feat by becoming the fifth Indian player to play in Europe, joining the Norwegian club Stabaek.
Gurpreet is the first Indian football player to participate in the UEFA Europe League.
P.K. Banarjee
PK Banarjee (1954-1967), a striker who represented the Indian football team made 45 appearances for them. In 1961, he became the first recipient of the Arjuna Award and, in 1990, he was honored with the Padma Shri. Notably, Sir Banerjee also received the FIFA Order of Merit, the highest honor bestowed by FIFA.
Baichung Bhutiya
Baichung Bhutiya (1993-2015) is a former striker who internationally represents India and played 80 matches in total.
His nickname, “Sikkimese Sniper,” originated from his exceptional shooting skills. He earned widespread recognition as the torchbearer for Indian football on the international stage. Baichung holds a strong record of 42 successful goals.
Subrata Pal
Subrata Pal (from 2004 – present) who gained prominence as the first well-known name among Indian football fans when he featured for U-23 in pre-Olympic qualifiers, leading the team to qualify for the group stages.
Furthermore, he actively participates in international matches and also represents ATK Mohun Bagan in the ISL.
Sailen Manna
People consider Manna as one of the best all-time defenders of India the country has ever produced.He holds the unique distinction of being the only Indian football player ever to be recognized as one of the 10 best captains in the world by the English FA.
His salutation came in 1953 when he was at the peak of his career.
So, these are the legend football players in India who made history by their outstanding performance and created huge fan following. Apart from the above mentioned football players there are many another legend players who created history in the game football like Tulsidas Balram (1956 – 1962), Sandesh Jhingan (2011 – present), Mohammad Salim (1926 – 1938), Dheeraj Singh (2015 – present), and many.
Conclusion
Indian football has seen significant growth in recent years, with a surge in domestic leagues’ popularity and the national team’s improved performance.
Indian football has made significant strides in recent years, with a growing pool of talented players making a mark on the international stage. From Sunil Chhetri, the country’s all-time leading scorer, to Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the first Indian to play in the UEFA Europa League, India has produced players who have showcased their skills globally.