AIFF Player of the Year Awards

[1] The AIFF first announced the award for Men's Player of the Year in 1992; I. M. Vijayan was the inaugural winner.

[8] Until 2016, the men's awards were selected on the basis of voting by the coaches of the I-League clubs.

Since 2017, coaches of both the I-League and the Indian Super League have voted to select the winner.

[4] Sunil Chhetri has received the award a record seven times: in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018−19 and most recently, 2021−22.

[13] Jo Paul Ancheri, Bhaichung Bhutia and Lallianzuala Chhangte are the other players who have won this award more than once.

Portrait of Sunil Chhetri in blue shirt.
Sunil Chhetri has been chosen as the AIFF Player of the Year seven times, more than any other player.
Portrait of I. M. Vijayan in a lighter mood during a football tournament in 2012.
I. M. Vijayan , the first recipient of the award, was also the first player to win for a second time. He won the award three times.
Portrait of Subrata Pal wearing a colourful shawl.
Subrata Pal was the first goalkeeper to win the award. [ 16 ]
Bembem Devi receiving the Arjuna Award in 2017.
Bembem Devi , the first recipient of the AIFF Women's Player of the Year Award. She won the award twice.