Players with the most appearances for India in International Football
Let's look at the Indian footballers who have made the most appearances for India in International Football. Only two players have more than 100 appearances for the Indian football team.
Playing for the national team is huge for any individual. Over the decades, several talented players have shown their passion, love, and dedication to Indian football, representing the nation with pride. Like Legendary Indian striker, Sunil Chhetri has left his mark on Indian football. He is the first player in the history of Indian football to make 150 appearances. So, let's look at the players with the most appearances for India in International Football.
Players with the most appearances for India in International Football
1. Sunil Chhetri (150 apps*)
Sunil Chhetri, the current captain of the Indian national team, is one of the greatest Indian footballers ever. In his 21-year career, Chhetri has made 150 appearances for the national team, scoring 94 goals. His 150th appearance for India came during the FIFA qualifier game against Afghanistan. He also scored a goal in that match but unfortunately, the Blue Tigers lost the game. He has constantly shown his passion, love, and dedication towards the game for the last two decades. Chhetri is the third-highest international goalscorer among active players (fourth overall). The 39-year-old individual doesn't get much of a game-time now but is still one of the most key players in the Blue Tigers' setup.
2. Bhaichung Bhutia (107 apps)
Bhaichung Bhutiais one of the greatest footballers in Indian and Asian history. He is often called the Sikkimese Sniper because of his shooting skills in football. Bhaichung has represented India 107 times in international matches and scored 27 goals. He played for top Indian clubs and even played for some foreign clubs. The Sikkimese Sniper made his senior international debut in the Nehru Cup against Thailand at the age of 19 and played his last game for the Blue Tigers against South Korea in 2011. His legacy is unmatched and Bahichung was the first player to appear in 100 matches in Blue Tiger's footballing history.
3. IM Vijayan (88 apps)
IM Vijayan appeared in 88 matches and scored 34 goals for India. His involvement in the attacking third was instrumental in India’s success during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Vijayan was honored with the Indian Player of the Year awards in 1993, 1997, and 1999, a feat achieved by no other player at that time. The forward took his retirement from International football after the Afro-Asian Games in 2003.
4. Shabbir Ali (81 apps)
The legendary Indian striker and manager, Shabbir Ali represented India in 81 matches, netting 23 goals. He played for Mohammedan Sporting and East Bengal. In 1976, Shabbir Ali scored a hat-trick against Indonesia in the first 35 minutes. Only five footballers in India have scored an international hat-trick and Shabbir Ali is the fastest. In 2011, he was honored with the Dhyan Chand Award.
5. Mahesh Gawli (79 apps)
Mahesh Gawli, the former center-back earned 79 caps for the national team. He is one of the best defenders in Indian football history, receiving several awards for his brilliance on the field. At present, Gawli is serving as the assistant coach of the Indian national team. Mahesh was the backbone of India’s defence for more than a decade. He won the SAFF Championships title twice in 2005 and 2011.
The Indian Super League (ISL) has consistently served as a launch pad for India’s most promising football talent. Here are top 5 Indian players to watch in ISL 2025.
The Indian Super League (ISL) has consistently served as a launch pad for India’s most promising football talent. The ISL 2024-25 season was no different, with young stars lighting up the league and charting the future course of Indian football.
Here are top 5 Indian players to watch in ISL 2025.
Dippendu Biswas, 21, made 14 appearances in a star-studded MBSG line-up and carved an impact with his defensive contributions, comprising 14 interceptions and victorious tackles each, 42 duels won and 39 recoveries.
He also occasionally delivered upfront; producing a goal and two assists and was named the ISL Emerging Player of the Month for February 2025.
2. Vinith Venkatesh | Bengaluru FC
Bengaluru FC has a track record of producing young talent for the nation. With Gerard Zaragoza in the managerial position, one of the players who made his mark this season is Vinith Venkatesh.
The 19-year-old impressed many with his dribbling and passing ability. A passing accuracy of 80per cent alongside 191 successful passes and 9 successful dribbles in only 602 minutes makes him a great prospect for the Blues’ future. Vinith has not only got a solitary goal and two assists to his name this ISL season but has also scored twice against Mohammedan SC and once against Mohun Bagan in the Durand Cup.
3. Brison Fernandes | FC Goa
Another player that has been a break-out talent this year is Brison Fernandes. From Goa’s under 18 team to being an out right starter, it has been quite a rise for Brison.
Brison has managed to impress with his dribbling and shooting capability scoring seven goals and assisting twice. The 23-year-old created 27 chances for the Gaurs and provided 25 key passes into the final third. With his direct play, the left-winger emerged as one of the most exciting young Indian players to watch this season.
4. Tekcham Abhishek Singh | Punjab FC
In only his second ISL campaign, defender Tekcham Abhishek Singh impressed with returns that saw him become the player with the third-most interceptions (47).
The 20-year-old won seven aerial duels, 17 tackles, 23 clearances, in addition to making 70 recoveries, while forming an impeccable partnership with Nikhil Prabhu, who made the most interceptions in the league in the season gone by (56).
NorthEast United made it to the play-offs after three years, while most of the credits go to its foreign players like Alaaeddine Ajaraie and Nestor Albiach, a player that went under the radar is young midfielder Macarton Nickson.
With 21 appearances and a passing accuracy of 73 per cent, he has really shone under Juan Pedro Benali this season. The 21-year-old has established himself as a box to box midfielder providing both in defence and attack.
Defensively, Macarton has 97 recoveries and 13 interceptions. In attack as well, he has been able to support by providing 2two goals, one assists and 22 successful dribbles making him a beautiful player to watch.
Indian football transfer News: India international Jithin MS to stay with NorthEast United FC till 2028
Jithin, 27, joined the Northeast United FC at the start of the 2022-23 season and turned out for the Highlanders 79 times across competitions with 14 goals and 15 assists so far.
NorthEast United FC on Friday announced that India international Jithin MS has signed a contract extension with the club, which will keep him with the club until the end of the 2028 season.
Jithin, 27, joined the club at the start of the 2022-23 season and turned out for the Highlanders 79 times across competitions with 14 goals and 15 assists so far. Jithin, who won the Santosh Trophy with Kerala (2017-18) and multiple I-League titles with Gokulam Kerala (2020-21, 2021-22), has flourished at NorthEast United FC.
Jithin’s impact reached new heights during the 133rd Durand Cup, where he was awarded the prestigious Golden Ball as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He scored four goals and provided three assists during the campaign, helping NorthEast United FC lift their first-ever major trophy.
In the 2024–25 ISL season, Jithin continued to impress with his electrifying pace and flair down the flanks. He was the only Indian player to feature in the league’s top ten for assists, finishing with five. He is sixth on the list of players with the most chances created (41 chances) and is one of the three NorthEast United FC players on the top-10 list, alongside Alaaeddine Ajaraie (52) and Buanthanglun Samte (43).
“My teammates and the coaching staff have helped me improve a lot, and their support has been instrumental in winning the Golden Ball and earning a call-up to the national team. I’m proud to have achieved these milestones with NorthEast United FC. This club has become home over the past three years, and I’m delighted to continue for another three years,” Jithin said.
“Jithin is an exceptional footballer, one of the best Indian players in his position, and what he has accomplished so far is truly commendable. His rise to becoming an India international is a testament to his relentless hard work, dedication, and hunger to grow every single day. I’m delighted that a player of Jithin’s calibre will continue with us for the next three years,” Juan Pedro Benali, head coach of NorthEast United FC, said.
“Jithin’s journey has been inspiring. His India call-up highlights the dedication and professionalism he brings to the pitch, embodying everything we strive for at NorthEast United FC. He is a key part of our journey, and we’re thrilled to have him with us for three more years,” Mandar Tamhane, CEO, NorthEast United FC, said.
Discover the all-time top scorers in ISL history, featuring Sunil Chhetri's unmatched record and other legendary players in the run. Get the full stats here.
The Indian Super League has completed 11 seasons, which have given us sensational moments to cherish in Indian football. We have witnessed some thrilling matches, and in this highly competitive tournament, players around the globe joined hands to bring the best out of this sport.
Get ready to find out the top scorers in ISL history, with Sunil Chhetri single-handedly dominating the charts with 75 goals.
1. Sunil Chhetri (75 goals)
Sunil Chhetri in action for Bengaluru FC in ISL. Image | NDTV
Goals: 75
Appearances: 183 (2015-2025)
Nationality: Indian 🇮🇳
Teams played for in ISL: Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC
The undisputed king of ISL goal scoring, Sunil Chhetri, is the top scorer with 75 goals in the tournament's history. He is the only Indian footballer in the list who is not only in the top 5, but also holds the first place.
Chhetri has consistently been one of the best performers and a multiple-time ISL Golden Boot contender. He is also the oldest player to score an ISL hat-trick, at the age of 40 years and 126 days in 2024 for his current team, Bengaluru FC.
Bartholomew Ogbeche playing for Hyderabad FC in ISL. Image | The Bridge
Goals: 65
Appearances: 98 (2018-2025)
Nationality: Nigerian 🇳🇬
Teams played for in ISL: NorthEast United, Kerala Blasters, Mumbai City FC, Hyderabad FC.
Bartholomew Ogbeche, known for his adaptability and lethal finishing, has scored 65 goals in the ISL. He found success across multiple clubs and has been a key part of Hyderabad FC's championship-winning side.
Ogbeche won the Golden Boot in the 2021-22 season and holds the record for most hat-tricks in ISL history, scoring 4 hat-tricks in his career.
3. Roy Krishna (58 goals)
Roy Krishna playing for Odisha FC in ISL. Image | X
Goals: 58
Appearances: 116 (2020-2025)
Nationality: Fijian 🇫🇯
Teams played for in ISL: ATK Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC, Odisha FC
Roy Krishna made his ISL debut in 2020 and climbed to the Top 3 in a very short period of time. His contributions with goals as well as assists become a vital part of every team he plays for, especially his current club, Odisha FC.
Krishna is a constant threat in the tournament, known for his ability to score from various positions. He holds the record for most goals scored by an individual against a single club in ISL (10 goals against Jamshedpur FC).
The fiery Spanish striker, Ferran Corominas, holds the fourth place, having scored 48 goals in only 57 appearances. He showcased his immediate impact by scoring hat-tricks in his third and fourth ISL matches for FC Goa.
Coro has won the most ISL Golden Boot awards (2 times), in consecutive years (2017-18 with 18 goals and 2018-19 with 16 goals). He is one of the incredible footballers in the tournament who set the standard for foreign strikers.
5. Diego Mauricio (47 goals)
Diego Mauricio in ISL. Image | X
Goals: 47
Appearances: 92 (2020-2025)
Nationality: Brazilian 🇧🇷
Teams played for in ISL: Mumbai City FC, Odisha FC
Diego Mauricio has been a powerful striker for Odisha FC since his debut season in 2020. He scored 47 goals in his ISL career so far and made his mark brilliantly.
He won the Golden Boot in the 2022-23 season with 12 goals, also helping them qualify for the playoffs for the first time. Diego was a key player in Odisha FC's Kalinga Super Cup triumph in 2023, which is their first-ever major title.
Lallianzuala Chhangte playing for Mumbai City FC in ISL. Image | X
Goals: 45
Appearances: 163 (2017-2025)
Nationality: Indian 🇮🇳
Teams played for in ISL: Delhi Dynamos FC, Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City FC
Lallianzuala Chhangte is the only Indian footballer, after Chhetri, to cross the 40-goal mark in ISL history. Known for his speed and dribbling skills, he scored 45 goals, spanning from 2017 to 2025.
Chhangte has consistently improved during his ISL career, playing for clubs like Mumbai City FC and achieving a swift pace in his goal-scoring technique.
7. Cleiton Silva (36 goals)
Cleiton Silva in the Indian Super League. Image | Facebook
Goals: 36
Appearances: 95 (2020-2025)
Nationality: Brazilian 🇧🇷
Teams played for in ISL: Bengaluru FC, East Bengal FC
The Brazilian forward, Cleiton Silva, is known as a reliable goal scorer and calm finisher. He has performed well for both Bengaluru FC and East Bengal FC, often keeping the limelight.
He has scored 36 goals throughout his ISL career, which places him in the 7th position here.
Marcelinho playing for FC Pune City in an ISL match. Image | Pinterest
Goals: 34 goals
Appearances: 87 (2016-2022)
Nationality: Brazilian 🇧🇷
Teams played for in ISL: Delhi Dynamos FC, FC Pune City, Hyderabad FC, Odisha FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, NorthEast United. FC
Marcelinho is one of the early stars of this tournament, who played his last ISL season for NorthEast United FC in 2021-22. He scored 34 goals in his tenure and also won the Golden Boot in 2016 with Delhi Dynamos FC, scoring 10 goals in that season.
He is known for his powerful shots and ability to create scoring chances.
9. Hugo Boumous (34 goals)
Hugo Boumous representing Mumbai City FC in ISL. Image | Instagram
Goals: 34
Appearances: 122 (2017-2025)
Nationality: French 🇫🇷
Teams played for in ISL: FC Goa, Mumbai City FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, Odisha F.C.
Hugo Boumous stands out as the only midfielder in this list, having scored 34 goals in his ISL career. He has been a key player for multiple teams and is known for his creativity, scoring, and assisting.
Boumous is among the top players for all-time ISL goal contributions (goals + assists).
Teams played for in ISL: Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC
Jorge Pereyra Diaz is a hard-working forward who debuted for Kerala Blasters FC in 2021. He mainly contributes with goals and link-up play. He scored 31 goals in his 72 ISL appearances.
Diaz was a key figure in Mumbai City FC's League Shield triumph in 2023 and ISL Cup win in 2023-24.
DPDL Launches Nationwide Campaign to Tackle Age Fraud in Youth Football
Double Pass Development League (DPDL) has announced a new regulatory framework, designed to curb age and identity fraud, which includes a two-season limit per age group and the introduction of the DPDL Digital ID Card.
In a major step toward strengthening the integrity of grassroots and youth football in India, the Double Pass Development League (DPDL) has announced the rollout of a comprehensive set of age verification reforms for the upcoming season.
Image | DPDL
The new regulatory framework is designed to curb age and identity fraud — a growing concern that has undermined the credibility of youth competitions nationwide.
Founded in 2019, the Double Pass Development League (DPDL) is India’s largest AIFF-approved grassroots and youth football league. With operations in multiple cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi, and a partnership with European football development leader Double Pass, DPDL delivers structured, competitive, and long-term development environments for players aged 5 to 18.
The new measures, effective immediately across all DPDL cities, aim to ensure fair participation, safeguard honest academies, and promote age-appropriate player development.
The league, which has operated since 2019 in partnership with Belgium-based Double Pass and is recognised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), is among the most structured youth football ecosystems in the country.
Introduction of the DPDL Digital ID Card Each player will now receive a unique DPDL ID card embedded with a photograph, date of birth, verified documents, and a QR code for on-ground verification. This will be scanned at match venues to prevent impersonation and misrepresentation.
Two-Season Limit Per Age Category In a move to ensure players compete at appropriate age levels, individuals will now be allowed to participate in a single age category for a maximum of two seasons. This rule will also take into account participation in past seasons dating back to 2019.
Independent Age Verification Committee An expert panel will be established to evaluate disputed or extreme cases of suspected age discrepancy. The committee will include senior DPDL officials, football association representatives, pediatric specialists, and documentation experts. Where necessary, advanced assessments such as TW3 bone age tests may be recommended.
Two-Year Ban for Proven Violations Teams found guilty of age or identity fraud will face suspension from all DPDL competitions for two consecutive seasons. The league has also stated that coaches or staff complicit in such cases may be subject to further disciplinary measures.
Standardised Physical Benchmarks for Younger Age Groups For the U7, U9, and U11 categories, DPDL will implement height and weight benchmarks defined by pediatric consultants. This step addresses concerns regarding physical dominance in early age groups that may not align with documented age.
“Youth football must be built on the pillars of fairness and integrity,” said Sarthak Dubey, Founder and CEO of DPDL. “These reforms are not just administrative updates — they are essential safeguards to ensure that honest players and ethical academies are protected. We are committed to building a credible and transparent footballing pathway for India.”
The announcement builds on DPDL’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its integrity framework, following isolated incidents in past seasons where discrepancies in player documentation and eligibility were identified.
In each confirmed case, the league took prompt and appropriate disciplinary action — including point deductions, disqualification from knockout stages, and temporary suspensions of involved personnel — reinforcing its commitment to fair play and accountability.
With the new framework in place, DPDL hopes to set a national benchmark for how youth football leagues across the country address age fraud.
Note: This article has been created from an official press release
Top 10: Most Free-kick Goals In Football History (Updated)
Lionel Messi, with his stunning free-kick goal against FC Porto for Inter Miami in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, has now moved up to the third position in the top 10 list of most free-kick goals in football history.
Free kicks or set pieces are one of the most effective methods to score a goal. However, it is also the hardest thing in football. But be it from outside the box or 30 yards from the box, free-kicks are one of the most beautiful things to watch in football when done correctly.
In this article, today we will list the player with the most free-kick goals in football history.
Who has scored the most free-kick goals?
This is a regular question asked in football quizzes. To give your answer, it is Juninho Pernambucano from Brazil who has scored the most free-kick goals. He has scored 77 free-kick goals in his career.
Most Free-Kick Goals: Messi or Ronaldo?
Whenever one discusses any football record, you can not leave Messi and Ronaldo out of it. At least, the fans can not leave it out. So, who has scored the most free-kick goals? Messi or Ronaldo?
Lionel Messi has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of the most free-kick goals scored. Messi now has 66 free-kick goals, whereas Cristiano has 64 free-kick goals.
If we break down the records of both Messi and Ronaldo, Messi has only 5 Champions League goals from the dead ball, and Ronaldo has 12. Messi has scored 57 free-kick goals in his club career, while Ronaldo has 53 against his name.
The Premier League is said to be one of the toughest places to play football. Many greats have failed in the Premier League; however, many have flourished in the league as a legend of the game.
David Beckham has scored the most goals by a free-kick in Premier League history. He has scored as many as 18 times from the dead ball in his Premier League career.
Here is the list of players with the most free-kick goals in the Premier League-
Juninho has scored the most free-kick goals in football history.
Known as the magnificent 7, Juninho was the best when it came to scoring from a dead-ball situation. The former Olympique Lyonnais legend and midfielder scored as many as 77 goals from set-pieces. Juninho is considered the greatest free-kick taker of all time.
He was also the inventor of the knuckle-ball technique shoots as well.
#2 Pele - 70 free-kick goals
Pele taking a free-kick in 1966. Image | X
The king of football, Pele, has scored 70 goals from set pieces. Pele could bend the ball both ways with fierce power.
Moreover, his immense game knowledge to out-think the goalkeeper helped him net the ball more often than not. The Brazilian striker's 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, which include friendlies, are recognised as a Guinness World Record.
#3 Lionel Messi: 68 Free-kick goals
There is hardly any top 10 attacking list or record in football where you will not find the Argentine maestro, Lionel Messi. Although before 2014, Messi was not considered prolific from the dead ball, he has just proved everyone wrong with his free-kick record since then.
Till now, the Argentinian legend has scored 68 free-kick goals. 57 of those have come for the clubs he has played and 11 for Argentina.
More than that, Messi now has scored a free-kick in every 16.3 match, which speaks volumes for his accuracy from the deadball position.
The Argentine from the 1970s is considered to be the greatest player in Mendoza football. Along with his stunning shooting ability, Victor was known for his 12 Olympic Goals for Argentina as well. There is a stadium named after him in Argentina.
#5 Ronaldinho- 66 free-kick goals
Ronaldinho scored 66 free-kick goals in his career. Image | Goal
The magician from Brazil was brilliant from any position. Ronaldinho had everything as a footballer. Hence, having the skill to net the ball from a distance was also in his armoury. The Brazilian legend scored 66 goals from set-pieces in his career.
David Beckham taking the famous free-kick that took England to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The famous phrase, "Bend it like Beckham", suggests how good Beckham was when it came to scoring from a free-kick. Beckham scored 65 goals from set-pieces in his career. His free-kick to take England to the 2002 FIFA World Cup is still cherished as one of the best moments in English football.
With his latest free-kick goal in the Saudi Pro League 2024 against Al-Fayha FC, Ronaldo has now moved to the seventh position in the most free-kick goals list. The Portuguese legend now has 64 free-kick goals against his name. With this free-kick goal, Ronaldo now has scored a free-kick goal every season since 2003-04.
Ronaldo till now has scored 53 free-kick goals for the clubs he has featured for and 11 for his national team, Portugal. He has now scored a free-kick in every 20.0 games.
#8 Diego Maradona- 62 free-kick goals
Maradona taking a free-kick in the 1986 FIFA World Cup
The legend of Argentine football is one of the best in the history of the game. Maradona scored nearly 20% of his career goals with free-kicks. His free-kick against Juventus for Napoli is known as the 'Divine Free-Kick'. Diego scored 62 goals from set pieces in his career.
#9 Zico - 62 free-kick goals
Image | Facebook
Brazilian legend Zico scored 62 free-kick goals in his career. He was very accurate in his shooting skills. Zico is considered one of the world's best players of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The attacking midfielder was very accurate with his kicks. Along with his accuracy, his languid run-up was very famous in his era.
The former Barcelona player and manager is known as one of the highest-scoring defenders of all time. The Dutch defensive midfielder also had his share of success with Ajax.
Koeman has scored nearly 25% of his goals with free-kicks. He is one of the high-scoring defenders in his era. Koeman scored 215 goals in his career and is one of the highest-scoring defenders ever.
#11 Rogerio Ceni - 59 goals
To the shock of everyone, Ceni was a goalkeeper and he has scored 59 goals from dead-ball situations in his career. Ceni is the highest-scoring goalkeeper in the history of the game. He has scored 131 goals in his career.
Except for one goal, all of them came from penalties and free-kicks. The Brazilian played for 25 years, most of that for São Paulo.
Marcelinho is nicknamed "Pé-de-Anjo" for his accuracy with free-kicks. The attacking midfielder from Brazil has collected more trophies with Corinthians than any other player in their history. However, Marcelinho failed to feature in any World Cup matches for Brazil. Marcelinho has 505 goals in his career.
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