Meet Bala Devi, First Indian Woman Footballer To Score 50 Int'l Goals

Bala Devi achieved a landmark milestone at the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship as she became the first Indian woman footballer to score 50 goals. In a recent game against Pakistan, Team India displayed a supremely executed set-piece play as Manisha's impeccable pass led Bala to score her historic goal in the 35th minute. It is no surprise that the indomitable Manipuri sportsperson is often regarded as the 'goal machine' of Indian football.

Meanwhile, Bala dedicated her 50th goal to her late father. Speaking to the Press Trust of India, she said, "This goal is for my father. Though he is no longer with me, I know he would be proud of me today... I got very emotional during the national anthem because it had been a long time since I last represented India."

India had numerous reasons to celebrate at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal, as captain Ashalata Devi earned her 100th cap for the national team, and Jyoti Chauhan scored her first-ever international goal. Player of the Match Grace Dangmei scored twice in the 5th and 42nd minutes.

Who Is Bala Devi?

Bala Devi was born on February 2, 1990, in Manipur. She began her football career when she was 15 and hit the limelight in 2019 in the Indian Women's League (IWL) when she scored 26 goals in seven games for the Manipur Police club. Today, she has 51 goals to her name. She has also won three SAFF Championship trophies (2010, 2014 and 2016). 

Bala has also won three gold medals at the South Asian Games in 2010 (Bangladesh), 2016 (India), and 2019 (Nepal). She is the current top scorer for the Indian National Women’s Team. She scored her first international goal at the 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification in Gurugram, playing against Iran. She received the AIFF Women's Player of the Year award in 2014 and 2015. 

In January 2020, Devi joined the Scottish club Rangers FC in January 2020 and became the first Indian woman to sign a professional football contract overseas. In December 2020, she created history by becoming the first Indian woman to score in a professional European league. Alongside her football career, Devi also worked as a policewoman for the Manipur Police. She was promoted to Inspector rank following her impressive performance in football for Rangers.