ISL 2026-27: Borja Martínez, Messi Bouli lead charge in Team of the Week for Matchweek 1

Kerala Blasters FC lead the ISL 2026-27 points table.

After the three friendlies played by the Blue Tigers during the September-October international break, excitement around the start of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season increased significantly, with all eyes turning to the top tier of Indian football as the league became available to watch for free on YouTube.

And the fans certainly did not disappoint. The club-led model, which made the bold move to stream ISL 2026-27 digitally for free on YouTube, is already reaping the rewards of that decision.

The opening game week alone generated over 65 million views across five matches, giving the clubs much-needed hope that interest in the league has been restored.

The players on the pitch did not disappoint either. The opening game saw Bengaluru FC secure an exciting 3-2 home win, scoring a dramatic late winner to claim all three points. The second game between FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC ended in a 1-1 draw, while Kerala Blasters followed it up with a 0-2 win over Inter Kashi.

The fourth game was a historic occasion as Churchill Brothers SC registered their first-ever ISL victory in their very first game in the league, beating Mumbai City FC 2-1.

IFA Shield champions Mohun Bagan began their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to NorthEast United, with Jithin scoring a dramatic late winner. Meanwhile, Punjab FC edged past Odisha FC 2-1, scoring with the first and last kicks of the game.

The coaches were equally entertaining during their press conferences. From Ashley Westwood calling Sanan the most ‘unfittest’ player at the club to Manolo Marquez blasting the Mumbai City management, the opening week delivered no shortage of drama alongside the on-field action.

While several players stepped up and produced excellent performances across different positions, here are the eleven players who impressed us the most and earned their places in our ISL 2026-27 Gameweek 1 Team of the Week.

Formation (4-2-3-1)

GK: Gurmeet Singh

Although Nawaz and Nora Fernandes made some great saves throughout the game, Gurmeet went a step further by securing a clean sheet for NorthEast United against a Mohun Bagan team that created plenty of chances in attack.

Gurmeet made a couple of low diving saves and was involved in physical tussles with Mohun Bagan attackers in several 50/50 situations inside the box.

His impressive performance and desire to proactively step up and avert danger by putting his body on the line on multiple occasions earned him the Player of the Match award.

LB: Aakash Sangwan

Sangwan, who had strangely terminated his contract with FC Goa at the end of ISL 2025-26 only to return to the club ahead of this season, once again proved why he is crucial to the Gaurs, not just defensively but also in attack.

Sangwan won all his ground duels and tackles against Irfan Yadwad while making three recoveries. In attack, he delivered two dangerous crosses, created three chances and registered an assist for Chiki’s crucial equaliser, providing a brilliant delivery from a free-kick.

CB: Muhammad Uvais

Muhammad Uvais was rock-solid defensively, winning all his aerial duels, making six crucial interceptions and recovering the ball three times in dangerous areas.

He was also not dribbled past throughout the game against Odisha FC.

In attack, he created two chances, one of which was an inch-perfect cross in the first minute for Messi, who converted it to give the Shers an early lead.

CB: James Bolton

Making his debut for the club in a defensive line that had little pre-season preparation and limited time together on the pitch, Bolton commanded the defense brilliantly against an Inter Kashi side that looked to go long whenever they won possession.

Up against a striker like Manvir, who excels at holding up the ball, Bolton won five duels, made four recoveries and recorded four interceptions, playing a crucial role in helping the Blasters secure a clean sheet in their opening game.

RB: Namgyal Bhutia

Bhutia, who was making his debut for Chennaiyin FC, made a strong start to the season with a solid performance at both ends of the pitch against FC Goa.

Defensively, he was solid against Nemil and Isak, who came on in the second half, and did not allow many dangerous crosses from his flank. He made eight recoveries and consistently looked to progress the ball whenever he regained possession.

In attack, he contributed to Chennaiyin’s only goal of the game, setting up Irfan Yadwad with a perfectly weighted pass for his stunning strike.

CM: Prachit Gaonkar

Stepping into FC Goa’s midfield as a young player returning from injury, Prachit bossed the middle of the park despite facing a Chennaiyin midfield featuring experienced players such as Talal, Nikola and Ayush Chhetri.

Prachit dictated the tempo brilliantly, recording 93% passing accuracy and misplacing just three passes. He also made six recoveries and two crucial interceptions, while holding his own physically against Chennaiyin’s midfielders and Ramon Tanque.

CM: Puitea

Despite Odisha FC’s defeat, Puitea delivered an excellent performance in the middle of the park against the Shers in the final game of ISL 2026-27 Gameweek 1.

Puitea won four ground duels and made two crucial tackles, but his standout statistic was the number of recoveries he recorded. He made 11 recoveries in the middle of the park against technically gifted and physically strong players such as Messi and Alfred Planas.

He also created three key chances, while all his set-piece deliveries looked dangerous. One of them led to a goal when Thoiba met the ball with a powerful header to equalise for the visitors.

Also Read: ISL 2026-27 opening week records 65 million YouTube views

LW: Andre Green

Despite limited pre-season minutes and some rustiness in terms of match fitness, Green showed Kerala Blasters fans glimpses of what they can expect from him in the upcoming games.

He made several progressive runs down the left flank, successfully completed three dribbles and consistently looked to score or create chances.

In stoppage time, he finally found the net with a composed finish during a quick transition, sealing the win for Kerala Blasters in their opening game of ISL 2026-27.

CAM: Borja Martínez

Borja Martínez arguably delivered the best performance of ISL 2026-27 Game week 1, scoring a brace and creating five chances in Bengaluru FC’s 3-2 win over Sporting Club Delhi.

Borja started through the middle and drifted towards the left when Ashique Kuruniyan moved out, remaining effective across the pitch.

His first goal was a brilliant left-footed strike from the edge of the box that gave the Blues the lead. His second was also a left-footed effort, this time from a tight angle, which brought Bengaluru FC level after Sporting Club Delhi went 2-1 ahead before half-time.

RW: Irfan Yadwad

Although Irfan Yadwad arguably had a poor overall game on the right wing against FC Goa, the sheer quality of the strike that gave his side the lead cannot be overlooked.

The technique he displayed to guide the ball into the top-right corner from such a difficult angle, leaving Bob Jackson with no chance, was remarkable.

Even Irfan himself might struggle to replicate that finish if he tried multiple times. His defensive work in support of Namgyal Bhutia was equally impressive, as he made five recoveries and four clearances against an attack-minded FC Goa side led by the threat of Aakash Sangwan.

ST: Raphaël Messi Bouli

After registering a hattrick and two assists across his IFA Shield appearances, Messi Bouli has already made seven goal contributions for his new club, Punjab FC, in just four games, including a brace on his ISL debut.

Bouli once again demonstrated that he is not just a goalscorer inside the box but also a team player who works tirelessly and creates chances for his teammates.

He created three chances against Odisha FC while scoring with the first and last kicks of the game, securing all three points and giving the Shers a winning start to ISL 2026-27.

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