As a football analyst who has spent years dissecting tactics and narratives across global leagues, I must confess a particular soft spot for the Indian Super League. There’s a raw, electrifying energy here that’s distinct. While European football offers polished perfection, the ISL serves up pure, unscripted drama, where passion often trumps pedigree. Over the seasons, I’ve compiled a mental list of fixtures that define this league’s thrilling journey. Today, I’m sharing my personal pick of the top 10 must-watch matches in ISL history. These aren’t just games; they are cultural moments that shifted perceptions, broke records, and cemented legends. Think of this as a curated guide for any new fan wanting to understand the league’s soul, or for a veteran like me to reminisce.
Any discussion has to start with the inaugural final back in 2014. Atlético de Kolkata versus Kerala Blasters. The atmosphere in Mumbai was simply unreal, a tangible wave of noise that promised Indian football was changing forever. It was a gritty, tense affair, not a classic by pure footballing standards, but the significance was monumental. Mohammad Rafique’s 95th-minute winner wasn’t just a goal; it was a statement. I remember watching, utterly gripped, realizing this league wasn’t a novelty act—it had genuine narrative heft. Fast forward a few years, and the 2019-20 final between ATK and Chennaiyin FC stands out for its sheer chaos and quality. It was a 3-1 victory for ATK, but the scoreline doesn’t capture Roy Krishna’s brilliance or the relentless back-and-forth. That match had the feel of a proper cup final, with everything on the line. Speaking of high stakes, the 2016 semi-final second leg between Kerala Blasters and Delhi Dynamos was a rollercoaster. After a 1-0 first-leg loss, Kerala needed a hero. They found one in Mohammed Rafi, whose brace sent the home crowd into absolute bedlam. The 3-0 comeback win, securing a 3-1 aggregate victory, is the kind of match you use to convert skeptics. The passion in Kochi that night was a force of nature.
For pure, unadulterated attacking football, my mind always goes to a regular season clash from the 2017-18 season: FC Goa putting seven—yes, seven—past Mumbai City FC in an astonishing 7-4 victory. It was ludicrous, end-to-end, and defensively shambolic in the best possible way. Coro was at his imperious best, but the sheer number of goals, eleven in total, made it a surreal spectacle. It broke the record for the highest-scoring game in ISL history, a record I don’t see falling anytime soon. That match was an outlier, but it showcased the league’s capacity for the spectacular. On the other end of the spectrum, the 2020-21 final between Mumbai City FC and ATK Mohun Bagan was a tactical masterclass. Mumbai’s 2-1 win to secure the double was a testament to their system and resilience under Sergio Lobera. It felt like a clash of philosophies, a sign of the league’s growing tactical maturity. While I adore goal-fests, I’ve come to appreciate these nuanced battles just as much. They show the league’s evolution.
Some matches are defined by a single player’s will. The 2019 semi-final where Bengaluru FC overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit against NorthEast United, winning 3-0 at home, was a Sunil Chhetri masterclass. The captain, as he so often does, rose to the occasion, leading not just with a goal but with an immovable spirit. The Kanteerava Stadium was a cauldron. Similarly, the 2022-23 playoff between Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC, infamous for the ‘walk-off’, was unforgettable for all the wrong and then right reasons. The controversy overshadowed what was a tense, brutal battle, and Bengaluru’s eventual progression after that chaotic night had a strange, dramatic poetry to it. It’s a match that sparks debate to this day, and in football, that’s often the sign of a truly memorable fixture. It had consequences, drama, and a talking point that lasted weeks.
Now, you might wonder about the reference to Harold Alarcon’s performance with 15 points, five in the crucial fourth quarter, along with six rebounds and three steals. That’s from a different sport entirely, but it perfectly illustrates a universal sporting truth: greatness is defined by clutch contributions in pivotal moments. Translating that to the ISL, I think of players like Ferran Corominas, whose hat-tricks decided finals, or Bartholomew Ogbeche’s relentless, record-breaking goalscoring in pressure situations. A player scoring five of his 15 points in the fourth quarter is like an ISL striker scoring a late winner in a semi-final or a goalkeeper making a season-defining save in extra time. It’s that ability to seize the moment that separates good matches from legendary ones. For instance, the 2018 final between Chennaiyin FC and Bengaluru FC, where Mailson Alves’s two thunderous headers from corners settled the affair, was a case of an unlikely hero delivering precisely when his team needed it most. That’s the Alarcon-esque clutch performance in a football context.
Other matches that round out my personal top ten would include the first-ever Kolkata derby in the ISL between ATK Mohun Bagan and SC East Bengal in 2020. The history was palpable, and the 2-0 scoreline for Mohun Bagan barely mattered compared to the seismic cultural event it represented. More recently, the 2023-24 league shield decider between Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant was a modern classic, a 2-1 win for Mumbai that was a tactical duel of the highest order, showcasing the incredible technical growth of the league. Reflecting on all these, from Rafique’s last-gasp winner to the recent tactical showdowns, the thread that connects them is evolution. The ISL has grown from a buzzing startup to a serious football competition. My advice? Start with that inaugural final to feel the origin story, then watch the 7-4 madness for fun, and finish with a recent final to see how far it’s come. These matches are more than entertainment; they are the chapters of a compelling story still being written, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds. The league isn’t just on the rise; it’s consistently delivering moments worthy of any global fan’s attention.
