Best Brazilian XI from the ISL named ahead of Brazil’s friendly in India
Brazil will travel to India to play an international friendly against the Blue Tigers on 3 October 2026 at the Salt Lake Stadium, a fixture the All Indian Football Federation has officially confirmed. Ahead of that match, Khel Now has assembled an all-time Brazilian XI composed of players who have featured in the Indian Super League.
The Khel Now piece notes that numerous Brazilian footballers have appeared in the ISL and made notable contributions to their clubs and to Indian football’s profile. The article argues the upcoming Brazil visit will give Indian fans a rare chance to see world-class players in person and provide additional global exposure for Indian football. It surveys Brazilian signings across eras of the ISL and selects a starting XI based on impact and reputation within the competition.
In defence the list includes Roberto Volpato, Roberto Carlos, Lúcio, Mailson Alves and Léo Moura. Volpato, now retired, played for Mumbai City FC in 2016-17, making around six appearances and recording two clean sheets against NorthEast United FC and FC Pune City. Roberto Carlos is identified as having played one ISL season for Delhi Dynamos and as a member of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup squad; the article describes him as the most decorated left back in ISL history. Lúcio is listed for his stint with FC Goa in the league’s early years, with the article referencing his past at Inter Milan and Bayern Munich. Mailson Alves is noted for spells at Chennaiyin FC and Northeast United FC and as a two-time ISL champion with Chennaiyin in 2015 and 2018, while Léo Moura is recorded as joining FC Goa in 2015 after leaving Flamengo, where he had been captain, and finishing his playing time in India with the Gaurs.
The midfield selections are Elano, João Victor and Rafael Crivellaro, joined by Marcelinho as the creative attacker. Elano is credited as a former Manchester City player who featured mainly as an attacking midfielder for Chennaiyin FC, scoring multiple goals and offering box-to-box contributions. João Victor is listed as the captain of Hyderabad FC who won the ISL with the Nizams in 2022 under Manolo Marquez and provided a steady presence in midfield. Rafael Crivellaro is recorded as having played for Chennaiyin FC and Jamshedpur FC and is described as a former Empoli player able to control and create chances. Marcelinho is noted for spells with Delhi Dynamos and Hyderabad FC and for winning the ISL Golden Boot.
The forward department in the XI highlights Diego Mauricio and Cleiton Silva. Diego Mauricio is presented as an Odisha FC standout who scored multiple goals for the club, won the Super Cup with them in the 2022-23 season, and previously featured for Mumbai City FC in a spell of 11 games. Cleiton Silva is described as an East Bengal FC legend who arrived after two seasons at Bengaluru FC in which he scored 19 goals; with East Bengal he won the Super Cup in 2022 and, in 87 appearances, scored 27 goals for the club.
Some of the Brazilian names the article singles out as among the ISL’s most prominent are Roberto Carlos, Lúcio, Elano, Marcelinho, Diego Mauricio, Cleiton Silva, Rafael Crivellaro, João Victor, Mailson Alves, Léo Moura and Roberto Volpato. India will face Brazil in an international friendly on 3 October 2026 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.