When the Indian Super League kicked off in 2014, it wasn’t just the beginning of a new league but a new chapter in Indian football. While young Indian players took centre stage, it was the foreign signings that often served as catalysts. They brought in experience, flair and a winning mentality. But not every foreign player who arrived made a difference. Only a handful left a mark so deep that their names became synonymous with the clubs they played for.

We had the chance to compile a lineup based on the best overseas players from each position. And we’ve selected players who stuck around long enough and shaped something. Those who weren’t just part of the league but helped define it.

Every name in this list earned their spot not just because of what they won or their records but by setting standards. These players set the bar for what foreign signings could and should bring to Indian football. Some led by example. Others by volume. All of them made it count.

That being said, here is the best foreign XI in ISL history.

Goalkeeper: Edel Bete

Edel Bete wasn’t just a shot-stopper, he was a silverware magnet. The goalkeeper won the ISL Cup with two different clubs, first with ATK FC (2014) and then Chennaiyin FC (2015). On an individual level, he won the ISL Golden Glove in the 2015 campaign.

His reflexes were sharp, his distribution decent but what truly set him apart was his big-match temperament. Bete’s consistency between the sticks brought composure to the defensive units he commanded. He was often the last line of calm when chaos erupted around him. And few foreign keepers in the league were able match his legacy.

Right-back: Inigo Calderon

Very few foreign defenders have operated as full-backs in the ISL and even fewer have left a lasting impression. Inigo Calderon is among the rare exceptions. The Spanish right-back brought with him a wealth of experience and immediately became a pillar in Chennaiyin FC’s backline.

A vital part of the 2017-18 ISL Cup-winning squad under John Gregory, Calderon offered both defensive reliability and attacking intent from the flanks. In a backline that included the likes of Mailson Alves and Sereno, Calderon often played the quieter role but was one that held the structure together.

Even during the difficult 2018-19 season, when Chennaiyin FC finished at the bottom of the table, Calderon’s leadership was key and he remained a guiding figure in the dressing room before departing midway during the campaign. The Spaniard quietly became one of the most dependable and influential foreign full-backs in the league’s history.

Right centre-back: Mourtada Fall

Mourtada Fall has represented three different clubs in the ISL and has become a household name in the ISL. A towering influence, Fall has been more than just a dominant aerial force. He brought a rare mix of scoring ability (with 25 goals as a centre-back) coupled with defensive solidity and big-game mentality while playing for FC Goa, Mumbai City FC and Odisha FC. Under Sergio Lobera, he evolved into a modern-day ball-playing defender and played a pivotal role in FC Goa’s 2019-20 Shield triumph and Mumbai City FC’s historic double in 2020-21. He also helped Odisha FC secure their best-ever finish in 2023-24 while securing their best-ever points tally in the league.

The likes of Henrique Sereno, Lucian Goian and Peter Hartley were also in contention for this spot. The trio were absolute rocks for their respective sides. Sereno won the ISL Cup twice with two different sides and Goian qualified for the playoffs with two different teams as well. Peter Hartley brought leadership to Jamshedpur FC's Shield-winning run but Fall trumps them all in terms of longevity, goalscoring ability from defence and having proved his mettle at three different clubs. You could rely on him in defence, but you could also count on him in the opponent’s box. That kind of two-way dominance is rare.

Left centre-back: Tiri

Tiri remains the foreign player with the most appearances in the ISLand he remains one of the most tactically disciplined defenders to grace the league.

A two-time ISL Cup champion, his reading of the game has been second to none. Whether at ATK FC, Jamshedpur FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and now Mumbai City FC, Tiri has been the calm in the storm for the teams he has represented.

Eli Sabia and Juanan were among the key names considered for this role. Sabia was a quiet warrior: reliable, no-nonsense and incredibly consistent. Juanan was also part of Bengaluru FC’s golden era and then won the Cup with Hyderabad FC in 2021-22 and brought a calm presence in defence. But Tiri’s longevity, impact and ability to thrive across systems under different coaches give him the edge.

Left-back: Bernard Mendy

Another rare foreigner who impressed as a full-back was Bernard Mendy, who brought Premier League pedigree and lived up to it. A natural leader, he marshalled Chennaiyin FC’s backline and added steel during their formative years. Though primarily a centre-back, Mendy also featured at left-back when needed. His goals, relentless energy and presence in both boxes were crucial to Chennaiyin FC’s Cup-winning campaign in 2015.

Beyond his performances, he mentored Indian players and led by example. For Chennaiyin FC fans, Mendy wasn’t just a defender but an icon.

Defensive midfield: Ahmed Jahouh

No one dictated tempo quite like Ahmed Jahouh. The Moroccan not only anchored the midfield but orchestrated every move. At FC Goa, he became the engine that powered Sergio Lobera’s possession-heavy setup. When he moved to Mumbai City FC, he replicated that success, winning the Shield and Cup. Jahouh’s tackles, interceptions and vision allowed others to shine while he quietly controlled the narrative of every match he played.

This position saw strong competition from the likes of Erik Paartalu, Carl McHugh and Joao Victor. Paartalu was the backbone that anchored Bengaluru FC’s midfield for years while McHugh’s versatility and his tactical intelligence made him invaluable. Victor too proved his credentials as one of the finest holding midfielders to grace the league, leading Hyderabad FC with authority.

While all of them have been solid, Jahouh’s impact was unmatched. The Moroccan didn’t just anchor midfields but dominated them. Whether it was covering the backline or launching a counterattack, his influence on the game was different. Few players shaped systems like he did.

Centre midfield: Adrian Luna

In a club that has long lived on emotion and fan culture, Luna gave Kerala Blasters FC something tangible: belief. Arriving in 2021, the Uruguayan quickly turned into the creative and emotional heartbeat of the team. Bringing the South American flair, Luna hasn’t just been skillful but also relentless. Whether chasing a lost cause or driving his team forward late into games, Luna embodied everything fans wanted in a captain. Under his leadership, the Blasters qualified for three straight playoffs for the first time in their history while reaching the 2021-22 final.

Several midfielders came close to making the cut. Memo provided balance and grit to Jamshedpur FC and Chennaiyin FC while Dimas Delgado was instrumental for Bengaluru FC with his composure and passing. Edu Bedia set the tempo at FC Goa for six seasons with his vision and calm. But Luna stands out for combining leadership and flair, raising Kerala Blasters FC's standards on and off the pitch and giving a previously inconsistent side a real sense of direction.

Attacking midfield: Hugo Boumous

No one has made attacking midfield look as effortless as Hugo Boumous. Boumous has carved open defenses with precision and he played like the game unfolded in slow motion for him.

At FC Goa, he won the Golden Ball in the 2019-20 season and led them to the Shield. At Mumbai City FC, he was again instrumental in their historic double.He showed his quality once again at Mohun Bagan Super Giant, contributing to their Cup success in 2022-23.He reunited with Lobera at Odisha FC during the 2024-25 season and was one of their best players despite the team not making the playoffs, leading the assist charts for the club.

Greg Stewart and Javi Hernandez were strong contenders for the attacking midfield role. Stewart had arguably the best single season by any attacking midfielder. His 2021-22 campaign with Jamshedpur FC was electric, guiding them to the Shield with 11 goals and 10 assists. The Scotsman proved his mettle with Mumbai City FC in 2022-23 as well when the Islanders won the Shield. Hernandez, on the other hand, has been a big-game player who has starred with multiple clubs and has one ISL Cup to his name.

But while Stewart had a dazzling peak and Hernandez thrived in clutch moments, Boumous delivered across multiple seasons and clubs. Whether it was FC Goa or Mumbai City FC or Mohun Bagan Super Giant or Odisha FC, he remained the creative engine who constantly unlocked defences with sharp, incisive passing while contributing key goals. Few players have defined a role in ISL quite like Boumous did with the No 10 position.

Right forward: Ferran Corominas

The most prolific foreign forward in ISL history, Ferran Corominas didn’t just score but he tormented defences. In three seasons at FC Goa, he bagged 48 goals in 57 appearances.

Under Lobera, he thrived in a system that revolved around fluidity and he rewarded that faith with goals, records and the Shield in 2019-20. He won the Golden Boot in two of his three ISL seasons.

Mauricio, who also played off the right on occasions, had an outstanding run with Odisha FC, especially in 2022-23 where he won the Golden Boot. He was explosive and unplayable on his day. The Brazilian may have had the flair but Coro was unmatchable. His intelligence and goal conversion rate were elite. He averaged nearly a goal every game and was the kind of player who made your whole attack tick.

Striker: Bartholomew Ogbeche

Ogbeche was a striker in the purest sense: instinctive, clinical and brutally efficient. He holds the record for the most goals in ISL history by a foreign playerbut it’s his consistency across clubs that stands out. Whether at NorthEast United FC, where he led a team of underdogs to their first playoffs or later at Hyderabad FC, where he lifted the ISL Cup in 2021-22, Ogbeche delivered.

Miku and Cleiton Silva were both strong contenders for this spot. Miku formed a lethal partnership with Sunil Chhetri at Bengaluru FC and remains one of the most clinical strikers the league has seen. Cleiton Silva, though often underrated, was an efficient goalscorer for both Bengaluru FC and East Bengal FC. But Ogbeche gets the nod because no foreigner has scored more goals in ISL history. And he didn’t do it with just one club, he did it with four.His ability to adapt to any system and still deliver goals season after season makes him an automatic pick in this eleven.

Left forward: Roy Krishna

Few foreign forwards have impacted the ISL like Roy Krishna. The Fijian was instrumental in ATK FC’s 2019-20 Cup win and then laid the foundation at MBSG. Whether leading the line or operating alongside a second striker, his chemistry with David Williams made them one of the most feared attacking duos in ISL history. More than just numbers, it was Krishna’s ability to rise in clutch moments with different clubs that made him indispensable.

Marcelinho and Steven Mendoza were also strong contenders for this position. Marcelinho claimed the Golden Boot in 2016 and lit up defences with his dribbling and movement while Mendoza was unplayable during Chennaiyin FC’s 2015 Cup run, including his unforgettable stoppage-time winner in the final.

But while Marcelinho and Mendoza delivered brilliant moments, Krishna offered the complete attacking package: scoring, assisting and leading from the front.

With 58 goals to his name, having represented four different teams, he sits just behind Ogbeche on the list of highest-scoring foreign players in ISL history.