ISL 2016: Top 5 contenders for the Hero of the League award

The league phase of the third season of Hero Indian Super League has just concluded and the top four teams have reached the knockout stages. Mumbai City FC, Kerala Blasters, Delhi Dynamos FC and Atletico de Kolkata are the four sides who will feature in the play-offs of the ISL this season. 

While Atletico have been the only team to have qualified for the knockouts in all three seasons, Mumbai City FC make it to the play-offs for the first time. Delhi Dynamos have continued the good work from last season, qualifying for the second season in a row and Kerala Blasters have replicated their highs of the first season to make it to the final four.

With the playoffs beginning from the 10th of December, we take a look at the possible winners for the Most Valuable Player award in the league this season.

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#1 Javi Lara

The Atletico de Kolkata winger has been pivotal to the team making the semi-finals for the third season in a row in the Indian Super League. Lara has helped provide width to the team, along with helping out in defence with his great work ethic. 

His delivery on set-pieces  is incredible, and for a team reliant on multiple contributors to help out in scoring, the Spaniard's three goals have been invaluable. 

Javi Lara has linked up well with strikers Iain Hume, Helder Postiga and Juan Belencoso, and continuously swapped flanks with fellow winger Sameehg Doutie to ensure the opposing defenders are always on their toes. 

Having taken 27 shots on goal, with 20 of them on target, he is their most dangerous attacking threat and the Kerala defence will be wary of the threat he possesses. 

One of only two Kolkata players to have played all the group stage matches, Lara has been an ever present in the side and will be key to their hopes of winning their second Indian Super League title in three seasons.