Football in India has faced many struggles; in that case, it is not easy to cross over everything and shine as a player. Still, many iconic figures have reached this destination with determination and hard work. One main reason is because of its popularity. Though football is celebrated as the most popular sport worldwide, cricket is still deeply engraved in people's hearts in India.
In today's blog, let's look at the list of famous football players in India, their struggles, and how they crossed everything and gained recognition across the globe. Let's dive deep into the blog to know more.
Famous Football Players in India
Here's the list of famous football players in India who have taken the country's fame by playing on the smallest ground to the largest football stadium in the world.
Sunil Chhetri
When talking about football, the first and only name in everyone's recital is Sunil Chhetri. He is a professional Indian footballer who plays for the Indian Super League club Bengaluru. He is the all-time scorer in the history of the India Super League. His unique football skills are his goal-scoring abilities, leadership, link-up play and many more.
Sunil Chhetri is the fourth-highest international goalscorer, most-capped player and all-time top goal scorer of the Indian National Team. With all these achievements, he is known as the greatest Indian football player ever.
He helped India win the 2007, 2009, and 2012 Nehru Cup, the 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023 SAFF championships and many more. He also received the Arjuna Award in 2011, the Padma Shri Award in 2019, and the Khel Ratna Award in 2021.
Bhaichung Bhutia
Bhaichung Bhutia is a well-recognized icon and one of India's most famous football players. He has experimented with different dribbling styles and invented his striker style, which he is popularly known for. He is considered the torchbearer of Indian football in the international arena.
He is known as the Sikkimese Sniper because of his shooting skills in football. He is also a three-time India Player of the Year. As described by the I. M. Vijayan is known as "God's gift to Indian football". He has won several championships from East Bengal, including the ASEAN Club Championship in the year 2003, the National Football League in 2003-2004, the Federation Cup in 2009-2010, the Indian Super Cup in 2011, and the Calcutta Football League in the following years 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011.
He has won several awards, such as the Arjuna Award in 1998, Padma Shri in 2008, AIFF Player of the Year in 1995, 2008 and many more.
PK Banerjee
PK Banerjee, or Pradip Kumar Banerjee, is another legendary and famous football player of India. He was an Indian professional footballer who played as a striker on India's National Football Team. He also captained the national team and, later on, became the coach of the national team.
However, he has represented India in 52 official matches and scored 16 official goals for the country. He was the first to receive the Arjuna Award when the awards were instituted in 1961. He also won Padma Shri in 1990 and was named the Indian Footballer of the 20th Century by IFFHS. He was also awarded the FIFA Order of Merit.
- Also Read: Famous Football Clubs In India
However, he represented India in three Asian Games: the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, and the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok. He was also a part of the national team that played at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. He also captained India at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, where he scored as an equalizer against France.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is another legendary, famous football player in India who plays as a goalkeeper in the Indian Super League in Bengaluru, and he also captains the Indian National team. He is considered one of the top Indian goalkeepers in football history.
He has also achieved several distinctions as the inaugural Indian to play a competitive match for the first team of a top-division European club, the fifth Indian to play professionally in Europe, and the first Indian to play in the UEFA Europa League.
However, he has also won honours, including the Federation Cup in 2012, the IFA Shield in 2012 for East Bengal, the Hero Super Cup in 2018, the Durand Cup in 2022 for Bengaluru, the SAFF Championship in 2011, 2015, 2021, and the 2023 and international cup in 2018, and 2023 for India. Apart from these, he also received an individual honour award, the Arjuna Award, in 2019.
IM Vijayan
IM Vijayan, or Inivalappil Mani Vijayan, is another Indian football legend nicknamed Kalo Hiran (Black Buck) and a former professional football player who has also captained the India national football team. He plays as a striker and was crowned the Indian player of the team in Indian Player of the Year in 1993, 1997 and 1999, the first player to win the award multiple times.
He was also awarded the Arjuna Award in 2003. He was the most aggressive player, became the highest earner in Indian club football, and became the regular choice for the Indian team. He also scored the fastest-ever international goal in a match against Bhutan in the 1999 SAF Games. He served as the captain of the Indian football team from 2000-2004.
He has also won several national-level championships, including the SAFF Championship in 1993, 1997, and 1999. South Asian Games Gold medal in 1995, Silver medal in 1993, Bronze Medal in 1999, and Silver Medal in the Afro-Asian Games in 2003.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Famous Football Players in India
What Are the Fundamental Skills of Football That a Player Should Know?
Some fundamental skills that a qualified football player should know are ball control, passing, dribbling, heading, cone drilling, agility and coordination.
What Are the Types of Kicks in Football That a Player Should Know?
The basic types of kicks that a professional football player should know are the push kick, instep kick, outside kick, back heel kick, toe kick, free kick and volley kick.
Which are the Most Suitable Football Cleats for Football Players?
The answer to this is it depends. Based on several factors, including position, surface, and fit, the choice of football cleats can vary for different players.
However, the emergence of new football players in India reflects the spirit of perseverance and passion for the football game. Their dedication and story not only inspire us but also serve as a motivation to never give up in life or sports.
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