Anirudh Thapa

Early life and youth career

Thapa was born in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, where he started his schooling at St. Joseph's Academy. He began playing football at the age of 10 at the St. Stephen's Football Academy in Chandigarh. After spending time with the India U14 side, he was selected to join the AIFF Regional Academy in Kalyani in 2012. As he moved up the national youth team ranks, Thapa moved into the AIFF Elite Academy where he became captain of the side in the I-League U19. In April 2016 Thapa, along with four other players, was selected to join French Ligue 2 side Metz on a short training stint which was sponsored by Indian Super League side Chennaiyin.

Indian Super League

Chennaiyin

On 1 July 2016, ISL club Chennaiyin signed Thapa along with four other players on a long term deal. Thapa was named in the squad as a developmental player for the 2016 Indian Super League season. In November 2016, due to an injury to Dhanachandra Singh, which ruled the midfielder out for the rest of the season, Thapa joined the Chennaiyin squad as a replacement. He made his professional debut for the team on 1 December 2016, in his side's final match of the season against Goa. He started the match and played 67 minutes which ended in a 5-4 loss. He almost scored his first goal but unfortunately it was given as an own goal.

I-League

Minerva Punjab (loan)

On 27 December 2016, after the conclusion of the 2016 Indian Super League season, Thapa…

Thapa first represented India at the U14 level. He was part of the U16 side that won the 2013 SAFF U16 Championship and participated in the qualifiers for the AFC U16 Championship. Thapa then went on to represent the U19 side in the SAFF U19 Championship. On 6 January 2019, Thapa scored his first ever international goal in a 4–1 win against Thailand in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. He scored the second goal against the same opponent in 2019 King's Cup which India won 1–0.

Club

As of 23 August 2026

International

As of 23 January 2024

International goals

Scores and results list India's goal tally first.

Mohun Bagan

Durand Cup: 2023 Indian Super League Premiership: 2023–24 Chennaiyin

Indian Super League: 2017–18; runner-up 2019–20 India

SAFF Championship: 2021; runner-up: 2018 Tri-Nation Series: 2017, 2023 Intercontinental Cup: 2018, 2023 King's Cup third place: 2019 Individual

AIFF Men's Emerging Footballer Of The Year: 2017–2018, 2019–20 Indian Super League Hero of the Month: February 2023