Mizo footballer Lallianzuala Chhangte named Indian Footballer of the Year 2026
Guwahati: Indian midfielder and Mohun Bagan player Lallianzuala Chhangte was named Indian Player of the Year at the Football Players’ Association of India’s Indian Football Awards 2026 on Saturday.
Manisha Kalyan won the Indian Women’s Player of the Year award as the ceremony recognised leading performers from across Indian men’s and women’s football.
East Bengal FC was among the major award recipients following a successful 2025-26 season. The club’s men’s team was recognised as the ISL champion after ending a 22-year wait for a national league title, while East Bengal FC Women received the IWL Champions award.
Chhangte continued to play a key role for both his club and the Indian national team. Other major individual honours went to Shillong Lajong FC’s Phrangki Buam, who was named I-League Player of the Year, and Jamshedpur FC’s Sanan Mohammed K, who received the Young Player of the Year award.
Miguel Figueira Damasceno was named Foreign Player of the Year, while Owen Coyle and Anthony Andrews were honoured as Coach of the Year and Women’s Coach of the Year respectively.
Sanfida Nongrum won the Women’s Young Player of the Year award, while veteran coach Savio Medeira received the Coach Education Award.
Rapid Sports and The Right Weigh were jointly presented with the Player Performance and Development Award.
Indian Football Awards 2026 winners
IWL Champions 2025-26: East Bengal FC Women
Indian Player of the Year: Lallianzuala Chhangte
Indian Women’s Player of the Year: Manisha Kalyan
Young Player of the Year: Sanan Mohammed K
Women’s Young Player of the Year: Sanfida Nongrum
Foreign Player of the Year: Miguel Figueira Damasceno
I-League Player of the Year: Phrangki Buam
Coach of the Year: Owen Coyle
Women’s Coach of the Year: Anthony Andrews
Coach Education Award: Savio Medeira
Player Performance & Development Award: Rapid Sports and The Right Weigh
ISL Champions 2025-26: East Bengal FC