---

5 Greatest Indian Football Players Of All Time

Football has grown a lot in India in the past few years. Players like Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri have helped popularise the sport in India. Nowadays, kids are not just interested in Cricket but in Football as well. This change can be seen in the vast increase in viewership of the Indian Super League (ISL). This list features some of the best Indian footballers to have ever lived.

Who Are The Greatest Indian Players Of All Time?

5. Sailendra Nath Manna

One of the best defenders of India. Captain of the National Team. One of the 10 best Captains of the world by English FA in 1953. AIFF “Footballer of the Millennium”. Our humble respect to Mohun Bagan Ratna Padma Shri Sailen Manna on his 96th birth anniversary 💚❤🙏#SailenManna pic.twitter.com/tmUcOXq9SD

— Mariners' Base Camp – Ultras Mohun Bagan (@MbcOfficial) September 1, 2020

Sailendra Nath Manna, or just Sailen Manna, is one of the most outstanding leaders the Indian football team has ever produced. The celebrated defender and captain was a vital part of the Indian team which participated in the 1948 Olympics. Under his leadership, India won the gold medal in the 1951 Asian Games. The Indian football team also won the Quadrangular Tournament four times in a row from 1952 to 1955.

The tales of his captaincy even managed to spread worldwide. Sailen Manna was selected to be on the list of the 10 best captains of the world by the English Football Association. He became the only Asian footballer to have been chosen for such an honour.

4. Subrata Pal

Credit: The Hans India

Subrata Pal announced his retirement on December 8, 2023, at the age of 36. Pal is one of the most famous football players to have ever played for team India. The keeper first gained fame among Indian football fans when he featured in the U-23 pre-Olympic qualifiers and led the team to qualify for the group stages. The team India star has won the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup and the 2015 SAFF Championship with India. Subrata Pal was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2016.

---

ALSO READ: Marcus Rashford Car Collection 2024

---

3. PK Banerjee

W/ legendary footballer sh PK Banerjee. Honored by FIFA Centennial Order of Merit, his contribution to Indian football remains unparalleled. pic.twitter.com/inyID9tlHz

— Col Rajyavardhan Rathore (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Ra_THORe) October 28, 2017

Pradip Kumar Banerjee is one of the best forwards to ever play for India. He made his debut in the 1955 Dhaka Quadrangular series. He was a key part of the 1962 Asian Games-winning Indian team. The Indian star scored against the likes of Japan, Thailand, and South Korea. He also captained India at the 1960 Summer Olympics, where he scored an equaliser against France in a 1-1 draw. FIFA named PK Banerjee the ‘Indian footballer of the 20th century’. Banerjee is the only Asian to have received the ‘FIFA centennial order of merit’.

2. Bhaichung Bhutia

Bhaichung Bhutia is credited with starting the football movement in India. He was the lone torchbearer of football in the late 90s and 2000s. Bhutia’s performances captivated the Indian crowd, making them increasingly interested in the sport. IM Vijayan called Bhutia ‘god’s gift to Indian football’.

Bhutia has won the AFC Challenge Cup, SAFF Championship, Nehru Cup, and the gold medal in the South Asian games. For his contributions to Indian football, he was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1998 and the Padma Shri in 2008. The forward was also inducted into the Asian Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

1. Sunil Chhetri

Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind confers Padma Shri award upon Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri. #PadmaAwards pic.twitter.com/zIVFeU4UNe

— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2019

Sunil Chhetri is probably the most famous Indian footballer ever. Football has recently grown a lot in India. Due to this, the popularity of team Indian has also increased vastly. Chhetri is both India’s most-capped player and all-time top goal scorer. The striker has scored 93 goals for his nation in 148 appearances.

Chhetri started his career at Mohun Bagan. However, it was after his move to Punjab-based JCT that the striker began getting noticed. His performances caught the eye of the Major League Soccer (MLS) team, Kansas City Wizards. During his time in the United States, Chhetri made an appearance against Manchester United in a friendly game. His time with Kansas City is one of the two times the forward experienced playing abroad. His second stint abroad came with Sporting CP B team.

The 39-year-old’s significant achievements, however, came in India itself. He has won the I-League twice, the Indian Super League, the Federation Cup, the Super Cup, and the Durand Cup with Bengaluru. Chhetri has also won the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup as well as the 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023 SAFF Championship with India. The striker has been named the AIFF Player of the Year on seven different occasions. Chhetri was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2011, the Padma Shri in 2019, and the Khel Ratna Award in 2021. He was also the first recipient of the Football Ratna Award. This is why Sunil Chhetri is the best Indian footballer ever to live.

For more news and updates on football, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and  Telegram.

---

---

More News

---

Comments