Indian football icons Ashalata Devi and Bembem Devi have been nominated for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup all-time Dream XI, marking a historic recognition for Indian women’s football on the continental stage. The Asian Football Confederation announced the nominations on December 10, 2025, with Ashalata Devi shortlisted among the greatest defenders and Bembem Devi among the finest midfielders in the tournament’s illustrious history.
Fans worldwide can cast their votes until January 10, 2026, through the AFC’s official platforms and social media channels. The voting contest requires participants to select their favorite eleven players from a curated pool of 41 players divided across four positions—goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards—representing various editions of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup since its inception in 1975.
Ashalata Devi: India’s Defensive Rock
Ashalata Devi, the current captain of the Indian women’s national team, has established herself as one of the most decorated players in Indian women’s football history. The 32-year-old defender from Imphal, Manipur, created history by becoming the first Indian woman footballer to make over 100 international appearances, achieving the milestone during the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024 against Pakistan in Kathmandu.
Her remarkable career trajectory began in 2011 when she made her international debut against Bangladesh in the pre-Olympics tournament in Dhaka. Initially a midfielder, Ashalata switched to defense in 2008 on the insistence of Chaoba Devi, a former India international and women’s team coach, while playing for Manipuri club Kryphsa FC. The position change proved transformative, allowing her to become the proverbial rock in India’s defensive line.
Ashalata Devi’s list of accomplishments spans both domestic and international competitions. She has won the SAFF Women’s Championship four times consecutively in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019, while also securing gold medals at two successive editions of the South Asian Games in 2016 and 2019. Her club career has been equally impressive, winning the Indian Women’s League thrice—with Sethu FC in 2018-19 and twice with Gokulam Kerala in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The defender’s individual accolades include being named the AIFF Women’s Player of the Year for the 2018-19 season. In 2019, she achieved another milestone by becoming one of only three finalists for the prestigious AFC Women’s Player of the Year award, competing against China’s Li Ying and eventual winner Saki Kumagai of Japan. No other Indian woman has been nominated for this honor, underscoring Ashalata Devi’s exceptional standing in Asian football.
In 2015, she became only the second Indian woman to play for an overseas club when she signed for Maldivian side New Radiant in the Dhivehi Premier League, helping them win the title that year. She continues to represent East Bengal in the Indian Women’s League while leading the national team as captain.
Bembem Devi: The Durga of Indian Football
Oinam Bembem Devi, affectionately known as the “Durga of Indian Football,” is India’s third most-capped player and remains a towering figure in the country’s football landscape. Born on April 4, 1980, in Imphal, Bembem Devi represented India for 21 years between 1995 and 2016, making 85 international appearances and scoring 32 goals.
At just 15 years old, Bembem Devi made her international debut against Guam in the Asian Women’s Championships in 1995. The turning point in her career came at the 1996 Asian Games, where India competed against Japan and Nepal. Her performances throughout her career earned her legendary status, leading to her appointment as captain of the Indian women’s team.
Bembem Devi captained India in the 2003 AFC Women’s Asian Cup held in Thailand, demonstrating her leadership qualities on the continental stage. Under her captaincy, the Indian team flourished, winning three SAFF Women’s Championships and securing gold medals at the South Asian Games in 2010 and 2016. She was named AIFF Women’s Player of the Year twice—in 2001 and 2013—cementing her status as one of India’s finest footballers.
Her club career showcased remarkable versatility as both player and coach. In 2016-17, she won the Indian Women’s League with Eastern Sporting Union while serving dual roles as coach and player, becoming the first manager in IWL history to claim the title also as an active player. She also dominated in the Maldivian top flight with New Radiant WSC and was adjudged the FAM Premier League Player of the Tournament in 2015 after scoring six goals in just three matches.
Bembem Devi’s contributions to Indian football have been recognized at the highest level. She received the Arjuna Award in 2017 and, in 2020, became the first Indian woman footballer to be conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor. She joined an elite club of Indian footballers who have received the Padma Shri, including Gostho Paul, Sailen Manna, Chuni Goswami, PK Banerjee, Bhaichung Bhutia, and Sunil Chhetri.
Since retiring in 2016, Bembem Devi has remained deeply involved in football as a coach and advocate for women’s football development in India. She has worked with Indian national age-group teams and at club level, including as assistant coach for the India U17 Women’s Team in 2018 and manager of Manipur Police Sports Club during the 2018-19 Indian Women’s League season.
Elite Company in All-Time XI Nominations
Ashalata Devi and Bembem Devi find themselves nominated alongside some of Asia’s most distinguished footballers. The defender category includes legendary names such as China’s Wen Lirong, a three-time Asian champion who was a commanding presence during China’s golden generation that won silver at the 1996 Olympics and the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Australian defender Steph Catley, currently one of the world’s finest left-backs, is also among the nominees.
In the midfielder category, Bembem Devi competes with Japanese legends Aya Miyama and Saki Kumagai, both of whom won Asian honors in 2018. South Korea’s Jang Sel-gi, who was named MVP of the 2013 AFC U19 Women’s Championship, is another distinguished nominee in the midfield category.
The nominations represent a significant milestone for Indian women’s football, showcasing the impact both players have made not just domestically but across the entire Asian continent. Their inclusion in such elite company highlights the progress Indian women’s football has made over the past decades and the individual brilliance both Ashalata Devi and Bembem Devi have displayed throughout their careers.
The winner of the voting contest will receive two general admission tickets to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 Final Match, with flights and accommodation provided. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Australia from March 1-21, 2026, across five venues in three host cities. India qualified for the tournament after topping Group B with a 2-1 victory against Thailand during the qualifying rounds.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup, first held in 1975, is the oldest women’s international football competition and the premier women’s football tournament in the AFC region. Twenty tournaments have been held to date, with China currently the defending champions. The 2026 edition will also serve as the final stage of Asian qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the penultimate stage for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Both Ashalata Devi and Bembem Devi have inspired generations of young footballers in India, particularly girls from the northeastern states where football enjoys immense popularity. Their nominations for the all-time Dream XI not only celebrate their individual achievements but also represent the aspirations of countless young women who dream of representing India on the international stage.
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