Chennaiyin FC's top 10 greatest players: Ranked

John Stiven Mendoza is widely regarded as one of the biggest success stories of the ISL.

Chennaiyin FC are one of the most recognisable clubs in the Indian Super League (ISL). Having been a part of the league since its inception, the Marina Machans have made it to the ISL final thrice and lifted the ISL Cup twice in their history.

Former FIFA World Cup winners like Marco Materazzi and Alessandro Nesta have donned the famous Blue jersey. However, here are the ten players who have had the most impact for the club in the last eleven years:

10. Nerijus Valskis

The former Lithuania international footballer joined Chennaiyin FC ahead of the 2019-20 season. Nerijus Valskis formed a great partnership in attack alongside Rafael Crivellaro, scoring 15 goals and winning the ISL golden boot as CFC went all the way to the final.

Valskis would then move to Jamshedpur FC along with Owen Coyle before returning back to the club in the second half of the 2021/22 season. Overall, the striker scored 17 goals for the Marina Machans in 32 games.

9. Henrique Sereno

Though he just played one season at Chennaiyin FC, Henrique Sereno is considered by many as the best captain at the club. Unlike the 2015 season, CFC didn’t have many big names in their 2017-18 ISL campaign. However, their captain led from the front, instilling belief and leading them to the title.

The Portuguese centre-back made just 18 appearances for Chennaiyin FC, but his absence is still deeply felt—not just for his defensive qualities, but even more so for his leadership on and off the pitch.

8. Bernard Mendy

The Frenchman joined Chennaiyin FC in 2014 and instantly became a fan favourite after scoring a memorable bicycle kick against rivals Kerala Blasters FC. The right back made 39 appearances for the club across three seasons, also scoring five goals.

Bernard Mendy was part of Chennaiyin FC’s ISL-winning campaign in the 2015 season and also briefly captained the club in ISL 2016.

7. Rafael Crivellaro

Rafael Crivellaro’s Chennaiyin FC journey began in 2019-20 and stretched, in various stints, until 2024. The Brazilian attacking midfielder made 56 appearances across competitions, registering 14 goals and 16 assists for the club.

Crivellaro hit his peak under Owen Coyle during the 2019-20 ISL campaign, playing a pivotal role as CFC reached the final. Persistent injuries, however, curtailed what could have been an even more influential spell in Chennai.

6. Anirudh Thapa

Chennaiyin FC’s “Boy Wonder”, Anirudh Thapa, holds the record for most appearances having played 125 games for the club. The Indian international also was the youngest ever to captain the ISL side.

Debuting as a teenager in 2016, Thapa grew into a midfield mainstay by 2019 before being given the captain’s armband in 2021. With CFC, he scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists to his teammates in all competitions.

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5. Mailson Alves

The centre back joined Chennaiyin FC in 2015 under Marco Materazzi and played a key role in the club’s maiden ISL title, featuring in every game that season. After a brief stint with NorthEast United, Mailson Alves returned in 2017-18 and delivered again – this time under John Gregory.

The Brazilian scored twice in the 2018 ISL final as CFC lifted their second ISL trophy in Bengaluru. In total, Mailson made 65 appearances and scored 8 goals for the club, cementing his legacy at the club.

4. Raphael Augusto

Known for his flair and dribbling, Raphael Augusto was among the ISL’s standout midfielders during his prime. Joining Chennaiyin FC in 2015, the Brazilian quickly won over fans with his skills, making 69 appearances and helping the club to two ISL titles.

Augusto scored seven goals and provided six assists across four seasons, including the winner in the 2017-18 final. His move to rivals Bengaluru FC in 2019 saw the supporters turn on him, but nevertheless he remains one of the most recognizable figures in Chennaiyin FC’s history.

3. Jeje Lalpheklua

Jeje, Chennaiyin FC’s all-time top scorer, is widely regarded as the greatest Indian to don the club’s jersey. Part of the squad since 2014, the Mizo Sniper won two ISL titles and bagged the Emerging Player of the Season award in 2015.

The striker’s best came in the 2017-18 title-winning campaign under John Gregory, where he netted 9 goals. A knee injury sidelined Jeje Lalpheklua for the entire 2019-20 season, and he later moved to East Bengal before calling time on a memorable career.

2. Elano Blumer

Elano Blumer, the club’s first marquee player, is etched in history one of the ISL’s most iconic players. In two seasons with Chennaiyin FC, the Brazilian won the Golden Boot in 2014 and captained the side to their first ISL title in 2015.

Across 26 appearances, Elano scored 12 goals and registered 6 assists. While his numbers dipped in his second season, his leadership proved vital as the club made a historic comeback from the seventh position in the league table.

1. John Stiven Mendoza

The Colombian was signed by Chennaiyin FC in their inaugural season. Mendoza showed promise in his debut season with 4 goals before injury cut his campaign short. But it was in 2015 that the Colombian truly exploded onto the ISL stage.

Stiven Mendoza dominated the league in 2015, scoring 13 goals and powering Chennaiyin to their first ISL title. He also became the first player to win both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in a single campaign – cementing his place as one of the league’s greatest success stories.

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