France League

Having spent over a decade analyzing football across Asia, I've witnessed countless debates about regional talents, but the question of India's best footballer always sparks particularly passionate discussions. Just last month, while watching Bernadeth Pons' interview about her MVP season, something struck me about how her comments regarding Creamline's international camps applied perfectly to Indian football's current situation. She mentioned how their offseason camps in Japan and Taiwan provided a "much-needed reality check" that they still weren't a perfect team despite their championship stature. That exact sentiment echoes what I've observed in Indian football – our top players often dominate domestically but face humbling experiences when competing internationally, which fundamentally shapes who truly stands as the nation's best.

When I first started covering Indian football back in 2012, the conversation typically revolved around Sunil Chhetri, and frankly, it still does for good reason. The numbers alone are staggering – 94 international goals in 142 appearances makes him not just India's all-time leading scorer but actually places him fourth among active international scorers globally, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ali Mabkhout. I've had the privilege of watching Chhetri play live seventeen times across various tournaments, and what consistently amazes me isn't just his goal-scoring instinct but his relentless work ethic that seems to defy his age. At 39, he's still outperforming players half his age, which tells you something about his extraordinary dedication. Yet, when Indian teams face international opponents, particularly from Middle Eastern or Central Asian countries, we often see the same pattern Pons described – that reality check that reveals gaps in technical ability, decision-making under pressure, and physical conditioning.

The emerging challenge to Chhetri's throne comes primarily from younger talents like Sahal Abdul Samad and Anirudh Thapa, both of whom represent this new generation of Indian footballers who are technically more gifted than their predecessors. I remember watching Thapa during India's 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers and being genuinely impressed by his composure in midfield – he completed 89% of his passes in the final third, which for Indian midfield standards is exceptional. However, where these younger players still fall short is in consistency and big-match temperament. Sahal, for instance, will produce moments of absolute brilliance one match then disappear for the next two – that inconsistency is exactly what separates very good players from truly great ones. Having spoken with several Indian Super League coaches off the record, they consistently mention that while the technical gap is closing, the mental aspect of the game remains where our players struggle most against international opposition.

What fascinates me about this debate is how context-dependent it becomes. If we're talking purely about historical impact and legacy, Chhetri stands alone – his contribution to Indian football transcends statistics. But if we're discussing current ability and future potential, the conversation becomes murkier. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, for instance, makes a compelling case as India's most consistently excellent player in recent years. Having watched him develop from his early days at Stabæk in Norway to becoming Asia's standout goalkeeper in many matches, I'd argue he's been India's most reliable performer in international competitions over the past five years. His performance against Qatar in 2019, where he made eleven saves to secure a historic goalless draw, remains one of the finest individual displays I've witnessed from any Indian footballer.

The infrastructure development in Indian football has dramatically changed the landscape for player development. When I visited the Reliance Foundation Youth Champs last year, the technical quality of the 14-16 year olds was noticeably superior to what I'd seen even five years earlier. These kids are benefiting from better coaching, more competitive matches, and increased exposure to international football from younger ages. Yet, as Pons highlighted with her team's experience abroad, there's still a significant gap when facing organized, technically proficient opponents. India's national team ranking of 104 globally and 19th in Asia reflects this reality – we're improving but still far from where we need to be.

My personal take, after years of observation and analysis, is that Sunil Chhetri remains India's best footballer when you consider the complete package of skill, leadership, consistency, and impact. However, what makes this discussion increasingly interesting is that for the first time in over a decade, we're seeing legitimate contenders emerging who could potentially surpass him in specific attributes. Sandhu is arguably a better goalkeeper than Chhetri is a forward relative to their respective positions internationally, while Thapa offers creative elements that Chhetri never possessed. The reality is that Indian football is in transition, and within two years, I suspect we'll have a new name topping this list. But for now, based on what I've seen and the data I've analyzed, the captain still reigns supreme, though his throne is certainly beginning to shake.