Year Ender 2022: Top 10 foreign players of the year

These players have produced exceptional performances in ISL this year.

The domestic level of Indian football produced another year of pretty memorable and entertaining games for the fans to enjoy. It was also a year for the first, at least in the Indian Super League (ISL). Hyderabad FC won their first-ever ISL playoffs title. While Jamshedpur FC clinched their first silverware by winning the ISL league shield last season.

While quite a lot of promising Indian talents soared in 2022, Indian football still needed the magic of foreign talent to give a boost to the matches. The majority of the clubs remain dependent on quality foreign talents boosting their goal-scoring capability as well as defensive sturdiness. There were a few notable foreign talents that managed to stand out among the hundreds that played across all levels.

With that being said, here are the top 10 foreign players in Indian football from the year 2022.

10. Marko Leskovic

Kerala Blasters decided to buff up their backline last season with the signing of ex-Dinamo Zagreb defender Marko Leskovic. This has proven to be a really smart signing for them. He has helped restructure their backline and bring a sense of reliability to the back. Leskovic had an impressive debut season in the ISL, helping his side reach the playoffs finals and keep 6 clean sheets.

The Croatian defender averaged almost 5 clearances and an impressive 81.35% passing accuracy per 90 minutes to help his side’s distribution. Leskovic has maintained impressive consistency this season as well, putting in some solid performances at the back. The 31-year-old has proven himself as one of the better defensive buys for any ISL team in recent years and has been a commendable regular for his side.

9. Marcus Joseph

Marcus Joseph has really enjoyed his stint in Indian football since arriving in the country in 2019. He continued his impressive work in his debut season for Mohammedan Sporting last season. With the 2021/22 I-League season basically dragged to 2022, Joseph’s best performances have come this year. He scored 16 goals for the Black Panthers last season, helping them stay alive in the title race until the end.

Joseph has continued his good work this season, scoring 3 goals in 7 I-League games so far. The forward is among the best foreign forwards in India right now and has shown his case for troubling any defenders he faces. He’ll now hope to continue his goal-scoring heroics going into the new year and help Mohammedan end their I-League drought this season.

8. Abdenasser Al Khayati

He might have only arrived in Indian football before the start of the 2021/22 ISL season, but Abdenasser Al Khayati has taken the league by storm. The Dutch midfielder has been in red-hot form for Chennaiyin FC, tormenting opposition and influencing a lot of good results for his side. The 33-year-old has played just 7 games for them so far, but scored 7 goals and provided 3 assists at that time.

He’s currently leading the ISL top-scorers charts and is the major force for taking the two-time ISL champions forward in their quest for a playoff spot. Despite only playing a few games, Al Khayati’s performances have solidified him as one of the best foreign talents to have played in India this year.

7. Joao Victor

Joao Victor has been a core part of Hyderabad FC’s impressive rise under Manolo Marquez. He has even become their club captain. Victor’s best performance for his side came last season, as he played an influential role in their ISL title win. He made 21 appearances for them, scoring 5 goals and providing an assist – with his better performances coming this year.

Victor’s hard-working style and creative touch helped his players improve and end the season impressively with a trophy. The Spaniard has maintained his consistency this season, leading from the front with his impressive progressive passes and defensive protection. Victor’s been among the best midfielders in the ISL this year. He has helped take the Nawabs to a whole new level.

6. Jorge Pereyra Diaz

Since arriving in the ISL last year, Jorge Pereyra Diaz has adapted to the conditions admirably well. The Spaniard proved himself to be a cunning signing for Kerala Blasters, playing an influential role in their route to the final. He scored 8 goals last season, including 5 in the second half of the campaign.

Diaz made the shocking decision to join Mumbai City in the summer and has been a hit for them as well. He has scored 7 goals and provided 5 assists across all competitions this season. The 32-year-old is a menace in the final third, with his smart movement and clinical finishing ability tormenting opposition sides. Diaz has been a goal machine in the ISL this year and has taken the competition by storm.

5. Odei Onaindia

Onaindia has been a revelation for Hyderabad FC and has been able to form an unbreakable partnership with Chinglensana Singh over the season. The Spaniard is one of the smartest centre-backs in the ISL, putting his impressive game-reading skills to help maintain a stubborn backline. Onaindia isn’t too proactive in recording huge defensive numbers but just puts in challenges when needed the most to avert danger.

He’s returned to the Nawabs after a one-season return to Spain and has been one of the league’s best defenders. Onaindia has helped his side keep six clean sheets in 10 games and bullied the best of strikers as well. If Hyderabad FC is able to win the ISL title again at the end of this season, Onaindia will definitely have to play a huge role in that.

4. David Castaneda

Sreenidhi Deccan has been able to benefit from their impressive recruitment over the last year, which is why they’re sitting on top of the I-League table right now. A player to have spearheaded their charge is striker David Castaneda, who has been an absolute marvel for them since arriving.

In just 24 appearances for them in the competition this year, he has scored 19 goals! That involves 10 goals last season and 9 already in tis campaign, in only 9 games at that! Castaneda has even scored a hat-trick, being the only player to have done so in the I-League this season. His stock is rapidly rising and it won’t be surprising to see interest from the ISL clubs for him if he can maintain this kind of goal-scoring consistency.

3. Bartholomew Ogbeche

Bartholomew Ogbeche has been one of the best strikers in Indian football history and seems to be aging like wine. The Nigerian forward played a huge role in helping Hyderabad FC win their first-ever ISL title last season, scoring 18 goals for them last season. In that, 10 goals were scored in the second half of the season and helped him win the Golden Boot award as well!

While he has had a slow campaign so far, scoring just 2 goals in 10 ISL games, Ogbeche is still a huge threat in the attack and a striker almost every defender in the league fears. The ex-PSG man is going strong and will probably look to give his absolute best before it’s time for him to hang up his boots.

2. Adrian Luna

Adrian Luna has gained iconic status among the Kerala Blasters faithful thanks to his heroics for them since arriving in 2021. His incredible dedication to winning, work rate and productivity saw him be established as their captain in his debut season. Luna had a brilliant 2021/22 campaign, helping his side get all the way to the final and scoring 6 goals as well as producing 7 assists last season.

Earlier this year, some awful tragedy befell Luna’s family as he lost his young daughter. Despite that, he has shown immense character to come back to perform for the Blasters – gaining the respect of the Indian football fraternity for his performances. He’s scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists this season, helping his side keep up in the playoff race.

1. Greg Stewart

Owen Coyle brought an absolute gem of a footballer to India in the form of Greg Stewart, who is en route to establishing himself as one of the best foreign players to have played in the ISL. Stewart took the league by storm in his debut season, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists for the Men of Steel to help them win the ISL league stages and get a place in the AFC Champions League.

Stewart was awarded as the ISL Hero of the League for his heroics, playing at a different level than anyone else. The 32-year-old decided to move to Mumbai City earlier this summer and has continued his heroics for them this season. Stewart has scored 9 goals and provided 11 assists across all competitions, helping them dominate the ISL. With his incredible number and output, it’s tough to argue against the case of Stewart being the best foreign player in India over the course of 2022.