ISL 2016: Top 5 footballers currently playing in the league
The third season of the ISL has provided us with some exciting football thus far. There has been a visible upgrade in the quality of the game and the presence of world class players and coaches, in particular, is believed to be the catalyst behind the improvement that Indian football craved.
While it might be deemed a tad too early for players currently on top of their game to play in the ISL, especially with it clashing with the regular season across the globe, we have had the pleasure of witnessing some of the greatest footballers in action on the Indian soil courtesy of the ISL.
In this segment, we bring to you 5 top players from across the globe who are currently playing in the ISL.
#5 Mohamed Sissoko
A product of the famed Auxerre academy that has produced a number of superstars, Sissoko first grabbed the footballing limelight with Valencia under the then manager Rafael Benitez with his athletic performances in the middle of the park. Sissoko’s industry, ability to recover loose balls in the midfield and hard tackling ability played a crucial role in Valencia winning the La Liga as well as UEFA Cup in 2003-04.
Benitez, who was impressed with his performances, brought him to England with Liverpool at the start of the 2005-06 campaign and Sissoko instantly became a hit with the Kop due to his tenacious displays during his three years in England.
He has since gone on to play for major European clubs such as Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Fiorentina. However, with age catching up with him, he had to be content with a bit-part role in the later stages of his career. He is currently the Marquee player for Pune City FC and while he might not have the pace and athleticism he once possessed, the 31-year-old has given us a glimpse of what he can bring to the table with his displays in ISL.