Who Is the Best Football Player in India? Our Expert Ranking Reveals All

As someone who has followed Indian football for over a decade, I've witnessed the evolution of the sport in a country where cricket traditionally dominates the sporting landscape. When people ask me who the best football player in India is, I always find myself pausing before answering—not because there aren't talented players, but because the definition of "best" keeps changing with each generation. Having analyzed player performances across multiple seasons and spoken with coaches, scouts, and former players, I've developed my own ranking system that considers not just goals and assists, but leadership, consistency, and impact on the national team. Let me walk you through my current top picks and explain why these players stand out in what I believe is an exciting era for Indian football.

Sunil Chhetri undoubtedly sits at the top of my list, and I don't say that lightly. With 84 international goals in 132 appearances as of 2023, his numbers speak for themselves, but what impresses me more is how he's maintained his performance level well into his late 30s. I remember watching him during the 2019 Intercontinental Cup when he scored a brilliant hat-trick against Thailand, demonstrating that clinical finishing that has become his trademark. What many casual observers miss is his leadership off the field—how he mentors younger players and his professional approach to training that has allowed him to outperform players ten years his junior. My only concern is that India hasn't produced another striker who comes close to his caliber, which speaks to both his greatness and our development system's limitations.

Now, if we're talking about the future of Indian football, my attention immediately shifts to players like Sandesh Jhingan. I've had the opportunity to watch Jhingan develop from a raw talent into what I consider the best defender India has produced in recent memory. His move to Croatian First League side HNK Sibenik in 2021, though brief, demonstrated that Indian players can compete in European leagues—something I've been advocating for years. At 29, he's in his prime defensive years, and his physical style of play reminds me of European center-backs. Statistics show he wins approximately 68% of his aerial duels and makes 4.2 clearances per match, numbers that would be respectable in any professional league. What sets him apart in my view is his organizational skills at the back—he's constantly directing teammates and reading the game one step ahead of opponents.

The conversation about India's best footballer wouldn't be complete without discussing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. As a goalkeeper enthusiast—I played in goal during my university days—I have particular appreciation for his technical development. Standing at 6'4", he possesses the physical attributes that modern goalkeeping demands, but it's his decision-making that truly stands out. I recall analyzing his performance during India's 0-0 draw against Qatar in 2019 where he made 11 saves against one of Asia's strongest teams. His distribution success rate of 82% last season is remarkable for a goalkeeper playing in a league where building from the back is still developing. Having spent time with Norwegian club Stabæk, he brought European training methods back to India that have elevated the entire domestic goalkeeping standard.

When we look at emerging talent, my current favorite is Anirudh Thapa. At just 25, he's already accumulated over 100 appearances for Chennaiyin FC and has become the creative engine for both his club and the national team. I've had conversations with coaches who describe his football intelligence as "exceptional for his age," and watching him play, I have to agree. His ability to find pockets of space and his weight of pass are qualities that Indian midfielders have traditionally lacked. Last season, he created 42 scoring chances and completed 87% of his passes in the final third—numbers that demonstrate his offensive value. What excites me most about Thapa is his continuous improvement; each season he adds something new to his game, whether it's defensive responsibility or set-piece delivery.

This discussion reminds me of something Bernadeth Pons, the Reinforced Conference MVP, recently noted about Creamline's offseason camps in Japan and Taiwan providing a "much-needed reality check" despite their championship stature. I see a parallel in Indian football—our top players might dominate domestically, but international exposure reveals the gaps in their games. This is precisely why I weigh performances in Asian competitions so heavily in my rankings. When Indian clubs participate in AFC tournaments, the difference in tempo and technical quality becomes apparent, and that's where players like Chhetri and Sandhu have proven their worth repeatedly.

Looking beyond my top four, I'm particularly intrigued by players like Liston Colaco, whose dribbling ability I find genuinely exciting, and Apuia, whose control of midfield tempo reminds me of a young Xavi. I've been criticized for having Apuia higher in my rankings than some traditional metrics might justify, but sometimes you have to trust what you see—the way he dictates play, his spatial awareness, and his composure under pressure suggest he'll be a mainstay of the national team for years to come. My projection is that within two years, he'll be playing outside India, likely in a Middle Eastern or European league.

What becomes clear when you analyze Indian football holistically is that we're in a transitional period. The established stars like Chhetri are nearing the end of their careers while a new generation is emerging that benefits from better coaching, improved infrastructure, and increased professional opportunities. My ranking methodology continues to evolve as I incorporate new metrics like progressive passes, pressing effectiveness, and expected goals contribution. The debate over India's best footballer is more nuanced than ever, and honestly, that's a wonderful problem to have—it means our talent pool is deepening. While reasonable minds may disagree with my specific ordering, what's undeniable is that Indian football has multiple players who would be worthy of the "best" designation depending on which qualities you value most.