Imagine a boy standing at a stadium, selling soda bottles to help his family — yet dreaming bigger than anyone around him. That boy was Inivalappil Mani Vijayan. From those humble beginnings in Thrissur, he rose to lead the Indian football team and inspire millions. As a child, Vijayan’s love for football was born watching local players at the very stadium where he sold soda. With the money he earned, he bought his first football — the seed of a dream no hardship could break. At just 17, his raw talent caught the eye of Kerala’s police chief, who brought him into the Kerala Police football team. From there, he moved on to legendary clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal FC, always proving his mettle with relentless passion and skill. For 12 glorious years, Vijayan wore the Indian jersey, scoring 39 goals in 88 appearances and captaining the team with pride from 2000 to 2004. He formed a fierce attacking duo with Bhaichung Bhutia — a partnership that ignited the nation’s football hopes. He became the first player to win the AIFF Player of the Year award three times and still holds the record for India’s fastest international hat-trick, scored against Pakistan in the 1999 SAF Games. Now, India honoured him with the Padma Shri — a recognition long overdue for a man who never stopped chasing his dreams. #imvijayan #padmashri #indianfootball #football #kerala #bluetigers #inspiration [IM Vijayan, Padma Shri, Indian football legend, Kerala, Padma Shri]