Goa may be one of India’s smallest states, but its impact on Indian football has been huge. With a strong football culture and generations of passionate players, Goa has played a big part in building the sport across the country.
It all started in the 1970s and 80s, with legends like Brahmanand Shankhwalkar, one of India’s best-ever goalkeepers. Hailing from Taleigao, he played for the national team over fifty times and captained India from 1983 to 1986. A long-time star at Salgaocar FC, he was the first Goan to be awarded the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian football.
Another icon, Neville D’Souza, born in Assagao, was a striker who made history as the top scorer at the 1956 Olympics and as the first Asian to score a hat-trick at the Games:- a record that still stands today. He achieved this extraordinary feat during the Melbourne Olympics, where India reached the semifinals in football, marking one of the country’s best performances on the global stage.
Bruno Coutinho born in Panaji was known for his skill and leadership. Labeled as a diminutive striker, Coutinho played for India from 1989 to 2004, winning two SAFF Cups and leading Salgaocar to major trophies. In 1996, he was named AIFF Footballer of the Year.
Over the years, Goa has produced some of the best midfielders and defenders in Indian football. Climax Lawrence, born in Navelim, played 72 matches for India and helped win the 2008 Asia Football Confederation Challenge Cup (AFC) and two South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championships. The midfielder was also named All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player of the Year in 2005.
In 2023, Lawrence took on the role of assistant manager at Sporting Clube de Goa, where he played a key role in guiding the team to victory in the inaugural edition of I-League 3, securing promotion to I-League 2.
Clifford Miranda, one of Indian football’s notable names in recent years, was born in Margao. A midfielder, he played over 300 matches for Dempo SC and represented India 45 times. He helped Dempo lift the National League title five times and the Indian Federation Cup in 2004. He was also part of the team that reached the semi-finals of the 2008 AFC Cup and helped the club win four additional domestic cup honours. On the international stage, he won two SAFF Championships. In recognition of his contributions, Miranda was named the AIFF Men’s Coach of the Year for the 2022–23 season.
Fortunato Franco, born in Colvale was one of India’s finest midfielders (then known as a half-back in 1960s parlance), Franco was part of Indian football’s golden era between 1960 and 1964. He was included in the 1960 Rome Olympics squad, though he didn’t feature in any matches. He later became a key figure in India’s gold medal-winning team at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta.
Franco earned 26 caps for India, including appearances in the 1962 Asian Cup where India finished runners-up, and in the silver and bronze medal-winning campaigns at the 1964 and 1965 Merdeka Cup.
His standout moment came in the 1962 Asian Games final, where India defeated South Korea 2–1 in front of 100,000 spectators.
Roberto Fernandes, a dependable defender, made 29 appearances for India and also played professionally in Belize, where he represented Belize Premier Football League side San Pedro Seahawks until 2001. On home turf, he won eight titles with Salgaocar and helped India win two SAFF Cups.
Goan clubs such as Sporting Clube de Goa, Salgaocar FC, Dempo SC, and Churchill Brothers have played a significant role in Indian football by developing local talent and giving players a platform to shine. Yet in Goa, football reaches far beyond club grounds. Children grow up with the game, learning from older siblings and playing barefoot in backyards, beneath mango trees, on church lawns and school pitches, indicating the sport isn’t merely a pastime consigned to memory, but something deeply intertwined into everyday life.
