The Indian Super League (ISL) will begin from 13th September 2024. All teams are gearing up for the top-tier league of India. Some teams are doing their pre-season outside India and some are through the ongoing Durand Cup 2024. Over the last decade, the tournament has seen some of the greatest footballers across the world feature in the league. The likes of Luis Garcia, and Diego Forlan all have come to India and increased the standard of the game.
There are talks of the possibility of stopping the league as the tournament does not have any kind of title sponsors. This year there are some big names added to the sides with lots of international experience and some amazing market values. The transfer market saw some excellent and massive footballers changing their clubs.
However, some of the footballers previously have failed to prove their worth in India and some have been sensational over the years they have played in the ISL. The forthcoming edition will also be waiting for the footballers to take part and showcase their talent in India. We will take a look at some of the highest-paid footballers in ISL history.
Here are the top 10 highest-paid footballers in ISL history
10. Dimitrios Diamantakos (East Bengal)
Dimitrios Diamantakos is one of the finest strikers in the ISL. The former Kerala Blaster striker was the Golden Boot winner in the 2023/24 season. He has joined the Kolkata Giants East Bengal and will look to continue his goal-scoring dominance in the City of Joy. The Greek striker has scored just one goal in the Durand Cup and needs time to set in. His market value defines the quality he possesses. He earns 5.6 crore in a year.
9. Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters)
Adrian Luna is one of the most creative footballers in the ISL history. The Kerala Blasters captain has made 60 appearances for the Southern club. He has scored 15 goals and has 20 assists to his name across all competitions for the club. Luna has already got two assists in three games in the ongoing Durand Cup. He has proved every worth of 6.4 crore INR.
8. Diego Forlan (Mumbai City FC)
Diego Forlan is a well-known name in world football. The Uruguay forward was the Golden Ball winner in the FIFA World Cup 2010. The former Manchester United forward did play a part as Mumbai City booked a place in the playoffs. He scored five goals and assisted three which also included a brilliant hat trick against Kerala Blasters. Forlan bagged a whopping 6.6 crores for his ISL stint and Mumbai finished the 2016 season at the top of the table.
7. Franca (Mohammedan Sporting)
Franca has been signed by Bulgarian club Lokomotiv Sofia. The 29-year-old can play in two positions as an attacking midfielder and right winger. He has the experience of playing in 33 games last season scoring five goals and two assists to his name. The Brazilian will look to add his experience in the ISL and will be getting money of 6.8 crore.
6. Dimitri Petratos (Mohun Bagan Super Giants)
Dimitri Petratos is the heartthrob of Mohun Bagan Super Giants fans. The Australian forward has been their star footballer since he joined the club. The attacker has signed a new contract with the club for two years. He will be staying with the Kolkata Giants for another two seasons. Petratos will earn a whooping amount of 7.2 crore INR per year.
5. Dimitar Berbatov (Kerala Blasters)
Dimitar Berbatov played one year in the ISL for Kerala Blasters. The former Manchester United striker’s struggle was pretty evident as he barely looked comfortable with the ball. In eight games he just had one goal and could not settle well in India. However, his price tag was huge of 7.5 crore while he was featuring for the Southern club.
4. Jason Cummings (Mohun Bagan Super Giants)
Jason Cummings has been one of the most prolific strikers to play in India. Despite being slow and sluggish he always finds the net in crucial times for the Mohun Bagan club. He is slowly settling himself in India and will look to firepower more in the upcoming season he has a worth of 8 crore for the forthcoming season.
3. Robbie Keane (ATK)
Robbie Keane is the third highest-paid player in the history of the Indian Super League so far. His fees at that moment were undisclosed but they ranged somewhere more than 8 crore. He netted 8 goals in 11 appearances in all competitions for the ATK club.
2. Alessandro Del Piero (Delhi Dynamos)
Alessandro Del Piero is one of the most prolific footballers to come to India and feature in the ISL. The Italian World Cup winner was acquired by then Delhi Dynamos in the inaugural season in 2014 as he was their marquee player. He was paid a whopping 10.8 crores for a season. He remains the second highest-paid footballer in the ISL.
1. Jamie Maclaren (Mohun Bagan Super Giants)
Jamie Maclaren is the all-time leading goal scorer of the A-League. He has joined MBSG for the forthcoming season signing a four-year contract with the club. Maclaren has become the highest-paid footballer in the history of the league. The Australian striker will be earning an amount of 12 crore per year from the club.
