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The ISL which is in its fourth season disclosed the salaries of the players plying their trade in the league. While Venezuelan forward Miku is the highest paid footballer earning Rs 3.17 crore in the five-month affair, there are a lot of Indian players who have bagged exciting deals.
Let's take a look at the highest paid Indian players in the ISL:
#5 Eugeneson Lyngdoh (Rs 1.1 crore)
Hailed as the best midfielder of the country in recent times, Eugeneson Lyngdoh is a livewire inside the rectangle. After two stints with Rangdajied United and two years with Shillong Lajong FC, the Meghalaya born settled in Bengaluru FC, who were an I-League club back in those days.
He was then bought by FC Pune City on loan from Bengaluru FC in the 2015 ISL auctions. After plying his trade for the Pune outfit, Lyngdoh finally shifted his base to Kolkata as ATK came calling in the 2017 ISL Draft and picked up the midfielder.
Lyngdoh's speciality is his ability to make long runs along the ground and create chances for the forwards.
He was a vital member of Bengaluru FC during their major title triumphs. Lyngdoh was awarded the AIFF Player of the year in 2015 and also the I-League midfielder of the year in 2014-15. The playmaker who has also been part of the Indian National football team on 17 occasions was roped in by defending champions ATK for a handsome amount.
#4 Anas Edathodika (Rs 1.1 crore)
Just like Sandesh Jhingan was the surprise element in the first season of ISL, Anas Edathodika grabbed the eyeballs during the second season in 2015. Although he was in and around the Indian football circuit for quite a long time, his talent got amplified only when he played for the Delhi Dynamos in the ISL.
He played there for two seasons and even got a call from Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan giants for the 2016-17 I-League season.
During this editionn’s ISL Draft, he was picked up as the first player for the new team Jamshedpur FC. Anas was picked up in the first round itself and in turn became the first ever player in history for the TATA owned club.
In 2017, he made his International debut and has already featured in 9 games for India.
#3 Sandesh Jhingan (Rs 1.2 crore)
Sandesh Jhingan was the find of the Indian Super League in the inaugural season, since then he has always been in the limelight. The tall defender is solidly built for his trade and never gives an inch away to the opponents in his territory.
The Chandigarh-born received football training from St. Stephen’s Academy and also represented the state team. It was due to his impressive show for the Academy and state team that he got a call from second division I-League side United Sikkim. After playing for a year at Mumbai FC, he finally got an opportunity to showcase his talent in the glamorous ISL in 2014.
Jhingan’s performance earned him the ISL Emerging Player of the Year award that season. The following year he made his debut for the ‘Blue Tigers’ and is now one of the most dependable defenders of the country.
#2 Jeje Lalpekhlua (Rs 1.3 crore)
Jeje Lalpekhlua is a gifted striker and a poacher in front of the goal. The ‘Mizo Sniper’ is always present at the right position at the right time to steer the ball towards the target. After starting his senior career with Pune FC, his talent was acknowledged by everyone during his days with Goa-based team Dempo FC.
Jeje was roped in by Mohun Bagan in 2014 and he made immediate effect by guiding the ‘Mariners’ to their maiden I-League triumph in 2015. The following year he scored 8 goals in the Federation Cup and steered Mohun Bagan to a record 14th title.
This season, he skipped the I-League to feature in the cash-rich ISL for Chennaiyin FC. The forward has also been an efficient member of the national team; his performance during the 2015 SAFF Cup is one of the main highlights of his career.
#1 Sunil Chhetri (Rs 1.5 crore)
Undoubtedly one of the best Indian footballers of this era, the captain of the ‘Blue Tigers’ has proved his worth in the past and is continuing his great form in this season too. It is mainly due to Sunil Chhetri’s brilliance that Bengaluru FC has been the most successful Indian club in the past 4 years.
After making his senior professional career debut with Mohun Bagan in 2002, he has played for several clubs in India and also had stints with MLS giants Kansas City Wizards and Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon.
He has been with the Bengaluru based team since its inception in 2013 and is currently playing the Indian Super League. Chhetri is the all-time top scorer for the Indian football team with 56 goals in 97 games. No wonder he is the highest paid Indian footballer in the ISL!
