The Indian Super League (ISL) has been fortunate to be blessed with some of the most creative footballers in the country’s footballing history. Players have really come from the oblivion to make a mark and lasting impact in the competition.
In its 11th season, the tournament is stepping into a new era of sorts and it gives observers a fantastic opportunity to go back the memory lane and assess some of the best players to have featured in the ISL. Here’s a look at the top-10 midfielders from ISL history.
- Ahmed Jahouh
The Odisha FC midfielder has been a powerhouse at the centre of the park; breaking the opposition’s attacks with his exceptional tackling skills and bringing his widespread passing range to the fore to help him team make forward forays. He has scored eight goals and made 25 assists, winning 6.87 duels per game.
- Hugo Boumous
With 30 goals and 35 assists, Hugo Boumous has been one of the most impactful midfielders in the league’s history. He has won the ISL League Shield and the ISL Cup twice each, also lifting the Golden Ball in the 2019-20 season when he played for FC Goa.
- Edu Bedia
Edu Bedia was the pivotal figure at the heart of the midfield for FC Goa for six seasons from 2017-2023. He not only dictated the tempo of the game, but also made several dazzling runs ahead to score goals and assist whenever required. He left the league with 13 strikes and 18 assists to his name, in addition to winning the League Shield with them in 2019-20.
- Erik Paartalu
Whilst the above three names brought a sense of flair to the game, Erik Paartalu was more of the old-school midfield warhorse for Bengaluru FC. He shielded the backline to perfection, winning aerial duels, playing the simple game optimally, and ended up netting nine times and assisting on seven occasions across his four seasons in the league.
- Brandon Fernandes
Brandon Fernandes can be touted as one of the finds for the country from the ISL. He largely captained FC Goa in the competition but moved to Mumbai City FC before this season. Fernandes has scored 11 goals and assisted 25 others in his 114 league appearances, winning the 2019-20 League Shield with the Gaurs.
- Greg Stewart
The Mohun Bagan Super Giant attacking midfielder did the unthinkable by spearheading Jamshedpur FC’s charge towards winning the ISL League Shield in 2021-22. Overall, he has scored 22 goals and bagged 24 assists in 54 appearances in the competition – having played for Mumbai City FC and the Mariners since his stint with the Red Miners.
- Federico Gallego
The NorthEast United FC attacking midfielder could be a left-field choice for this list, but anyone who watched him play could vouch for his insane creativity in a rather mediocre Highlanders’ setup. Gallego scored nine goals and bagged 11 assists in 59 appearances, and was a master from set-pieces, with the crowd always on the edge of their seats whenever he stepped up to take a free-kick.
- Lalengmawia Ralte
Much like Brandon, Lalengmawia Ralte, too, has been one of the most tremendous youngsters to have risen from the ISL. In 95 appearances, he has averaged 42 passes per game at 85% accuracy, winning the ISL League Shield and ISL Cup once each with Mumbai City FC. He secured the high-profile switch to Mohun Bagan Super Giant before this campaign.
- Adrian Luna
Adrian Luna has been the blue-eyed star for Kerala Blasters FC, with his incredible playmaking skills rescuing them often. He has scored 13 goals and assisted 17 others in 55 league appearances, totalling an impressive 30 contributions, despite being troubled by injuries on and off.
- Rafael Crivellaro
The Brazilian playmaker repeatedly wreaked havoc in the opposition’s defensive line with his razor sharp ability to deliver key chances. He scored 12 goals and made 18 assists in 59 matches in the ISL, playing a major chunk of his games for Chennaiyin FC, finishing runners-up with them in 2019-20.
