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2017 was an unforgettable year for Indian football. India hosted its first FIFA World Cup event. Jeackson Singh who as a part of the U17 team which participated in the World Cup scored India's first goal in a World Cup, the Indian senior football team came into the top 100s in the FIFA world ranking after 21 years and they later went on to India qualified for the 2019 AFC Asia Cup.
The Indian national football team has now gone on a 13-game unbeaten run, and are set to end the year on a high, with a ranking of 105, something that is pretty rare for the Blue Tigers.
As yet another year approaches its end, Sportskeeda takes a look at five of the best Indian midfielders over the last 12 months.
#5 Milan Singh
Milan Singh, the 25-year-old Manipuri midfielder is an important part of René Meulensteen's Kerala Blasters this season. After having a good loan spell at Delhi Dynamos, he went back to DSK Shivajians last season, before joining the South Indian club through the Player draft.
The central midfielder is adept at controlling the midfield with good interceptions and frequently troubled the opposition goalkeeper with long-range shots. The Manipuri showed incredible work-rate in the midfield as he scored 4 goals in 2017.
Milan Singh's good performance for Delhi Dynamos and DSK Shivajians saw him getting a call-up to Stephen Constantine's team for the match against Saint Kitts and Nevis.
#4 Sehnaj Singh
The experienced midfielder, Sehnaj Singh had a good year in 2017. The defensive midfielder was at Kolkata-based club Mohun Bagan last season. Before joining the Mariners, Sehnaj had a good season for the rivals East Bengal as well.
The midfielder plays in front of the defensive line and provides an extra protection. Sehnaj is strong on his tackles and has good passing skills, which have helped Mohun Bagan finish as runners-up last season's I-League. Even Though he had a good season for the club it was a year to forget for the Chandigarh-based midfielder and he did not make it to the senior football team this year either.
#3 Mehtab Hossain
The experienced Indian midfielder was a part of Kerala Blasters for first three ISL seasons and helped them reach the finals of the tournament on two occasions. Mehtab Hossain joined the newly-formed Jamshedpur FC under Steve Coppell for the 2017 season.
Known as the 'Claude Makelele of Indian football', Mehtab had an important role to play in Kerala Blasters reaching the Finals in 2016 -17 season of ISL. The strong midfielder is not hesitant in going for strong tackles on opponent attackers and winning the ball back. Such attributes made him one of the first names to join Steve Coppell's team.
The Indian midfielder retired from the national team from 2015, but his performance and his importance in the role he played for the club brings him to this list.
#2 Jeakson Singh
When India created history by participating in a World Cup event for the first time, Jeakson Singh was the star of the moment as he scored the first goal for India in a World Cup event. Jeakson had an important role to play in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The teenaged midfielder is a part of All India Football Federation's pet project, the Indian Arrows, which is playing in the I-League this season. He took part in 3 games for The Arrows this season and helping them get two wins and a draw. Jeakson Singh has an important role to play in the team which consist of the Indian U17 and U19 players.
#1 Rowllin Borges
NorthEast United FC coach João de Deus had hailed Rowllin Borges has one of the best midfielders from India. The 2016 AIFF Emerging Player of the Year had a great season, bringing out all his capability in owning the midfield for club and country.
The 25-year-old midfielder played an important role in East Bengal in the 2016-17 season of I-League and continued the same for NorthEast United FC in ISL. Rowllin had an important role in Stephen Constantine's national team that qualified for 2019 AFC Asia Cup.
Borges has been instrumental in providing stability to the national team's midfield. Not only does he play the role of the destroyer int he middle of the park, but he also acts as a deep-lying playmaker, making him an invaluable asset for the Blue Tigers.
