LouJ11418910501 at 13:33, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T13:33:13Z

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{{Short description|Indian footballer (born 2000)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = K Lalrinfela
| image = File:Lalrinfela Khiangte (Footballer).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Lalrinfela at the end of his debut ISL match at Kishore Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata on 21 September 2024
| fullname = Khiangte Lalrinfela
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|3|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Hnahthial]], [[Mizoram]], [[India]]
| height = 1.80 m
| position = [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|Attacking midfielder]]
| currentclub = [[Odisha FC|Odisha]]
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2015–2016
| youthclubs1 = [[Mohun Bagan SG Youth and Academy|Mohun Bagan U18]]
| youthyears2 = 2017–2019
| youthclubs2 = [[Bengaluru FC Reserves and Academy|Bengaluru U18]]
| years1 = 2019–2020
| clubs1 = [[Bengaluru FC Reserves and Academy|Bengaluru B]]
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2021–2022
| clubs2 = Ramhlun North
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 2022
| clubs3 = Ramkrishna Club
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| years4 = 2022
| clubs4 = Swaraj FC
| caps4 =
| goals4 =
| years5 = 2022–2024
| clubs5 = [[Aizawl FC|Aizawl]]
| caps5 = 41
| goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2024–2025
| clubs6 = [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
| caps6 = 11
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2025–
| clubs7 = [[Odisha FC|Odisha]]
| caps7 = 9
| goals7 = 1
| club-update = 22:53, 7 March 2026 (UTC)
}}

[[File:K Lalrinfela.jpg|thumb|K Lalrinfela, Indian footballer]]

'''Khiangte Lalrinfela''' (born 11 March 2000), commonly known by his nickname '''Mafela''', is an Indian professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[midfielder]] for [[Indian Super League]] club [[Odisha FC|Odisha]].

== Career ==
=== Early career ===
Born in [[Hnahthial]] ({{IPA|or|hnahˈthial||}}), [[Mizoram]], Mafela (Lalrinfela Khiangte)<ref>{{cite web|title= Instagram account|url=https://www.instagram.com/mafelaa/|access-date=14 September 2024|website=Instagram}}</ref> joined [[Mohun Bagan SG Youth and Academy|Mohun Bagan Football Academy]] in 2015 after going through necessary trials conducted by the academy. After a year of staying in the academy, he looked for a seemingly better academy elsewhere hoping that further more improvements will come from such an academy. In 2017, he joined [[Bengaluru FC Reserves and Academy|Bengaluru B]] and stayed there till his graduation. He had played for [[Bengaluru FC Reserves and Academy|Bengaluru U18]]. He also participated in Subroto Cup, 2015 and B.C Roy Trophy as well as represented Mizoram in Santosh Trophy Qualifiers, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title= Profile of K Lalrinfela|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/players/profile/65821?type=club|access-date=18 November 2022|website=the-aiff.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= U18 Youth League: Bengaluru start their campaign with a big margin victory|url=https://www.gcsstars.com/2017/12/u18-youth-league-bengaluru-start-their.html?m=1|access-date=18 November 2022|website=gcsstars.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Bengaluru FC 'B' ready for inaugural season|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/bengaluru-fc-b-ready-for-inaugural-season/articleshow/61053522.cms|access-date=23 November 2022|website=timesofindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Lalrinfela came on and put out a composed performance|url=https://twitter.com/bengalurufc/status/893827436256702466/photo/1|access-date=9 January 2024|website=twitter Bengaluru}}</ref>

=== Aizawl ===
Before joining [[Aizawl FC|Aizawl]] in 2022, Mafela had played for other football clubs such as Ramakrishna Club and Swaraj FC. In July 2022, he signed a two-year professional contract with [[Aizawl FC|The People's Club]] and wore the number 10 Jersey for [[Aizawl FC|Aizawl]]. He made his professional debut for [[Aizawl FC|Aizawl]] against [[TRAU FC|TRAU]] on 15 November, at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl.<ref>{{cite web|title= Aizawl FC sign midfielder K Lalrinfela|url=https://www.arunfoot.com/aizawl-fc-sign-midfielder-k-lalrinfela|access-date=18 November 2022|website=arunfoot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Transfer update of midfield maestro - K Lalrinfela A.K.A Mafela|url=https://twitter.com/AizawlFC/status/1548323181370703873|access-date=18 November 2022|website=twitter.com}}</ref> He played for 90 minutes in the first match of the [[2022–23 I-League]] season and scored his debut professional goal at 48th minute and won the Hero of the Match Award.<ref>{{cite web|title= Player of the match|url=https://i-league.org/match-details/?mid=14332|access-date=18 November 2022|website=i league official}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Aizawl 1–1 TRAU|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/11/15/india/i-league/aizawl-fc/trau/3981588/|date=15 November 2022|access-date=17 November 2022|website=soccerway}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Aizawl FC settle for draw against TRAU FC|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/i-league-aizawl-settle-for-draw-against-trau/articleshow/95539898.cms|access-date=23 November 2022|website=timesofindia.com}}</ref> Besides having scored one goal, Mafela has registered two assists to his name in the current 2022 I League, one against [[Sreenidi Deccan FC]] and another one against [[Mumbai Kenkre FC]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sreenidi, Aizawl share spoils despite late drama at the Deccan Arena|url=https://i-league.org/sreenidi-aizawl-share-spoils-despite-late-drama-at-the-deccan-arena/?fbclid=IwAR12H7qjoHmJfFKIKEJ9M7JVjE50YP3U2_ViUVrdXVNkdiFSmNrkjBfBH-Y|access-date=17 December 2022|website=i-League.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Sreenidi Deccan vs. Aizawl 3 – 3 |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/12/11/india/i-league/sreenidi-deccan/aizawl-fc/3981621/|date=11 December 2022|access-date=17 December 2022|website=soccerway}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Aizawl vs Kenkre 4 - 0|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/12/17/india/i-league/aizawl-fc/kenkre-football-academy-fc/3981631/|date=17 December 2022|access-date=17 December 2022|website=soccerway}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Aizawl FC rout Mumbai Kenkre FC to collect full points|url=https://i-league.org/aizawl-fc-rout-mumbai-kenkre-fc-to-collect-full-points/?fbclid=IwAR0KEmHA-qflLrdHCSouc9Y27qYd1Rmt75Um2UjsncYnUCFxbv7xH-QJ2LE|date=17 December 2022|access-date=19 December 2022|website=i-league.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Commentary on Aizawl FC vs Kenkre FC|url=https://www.espn.in/football/commentary?gameId=656099|date=17 December 2022|access-date=19 December 2022|website=espn.in}}</ref>

He sustained an injury to his foot in a match against [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)]] on 13 January 2023 and therefore missed the next two away matches - one against [[Sudeva Delhi FC]] on 16 January 2023 and another one against [[NEROCA FC]] on 21 January 2023.

Even though not being fully recovered from the injury, he appeared in the home match against [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)]] on 26 January 2023 where [[Aizawl FC]] won by one goal.

In the 2023-24 I-league season, he played 90 plus minutes in the first match of Aizawl FC for the season against [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)]] at Naihati Bankimanjali Stadium on 29 October 2023 and scored the lone goal for Aizawl.<ref>{{cite web|title= Mohammedan vs Aizawl FC|url=https://i-league.org/prodigal-mohammedan-sporting-do-enough-to-take-home-three-points/|access-date=14 November 2023|website=i-league official}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Mohammedan vs Aizawl FC|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/29/india/i-league/mohammedan-sporting-club/aizawl-fc/4258524/commentary/|access-date=14 November 2023|website=soccerway}}</ref> In the second match of the season on 7 November 2023 against [[Sreenidi Deccan FC]] at Deccan Arena, he registered an assist for his meticulous pass which was converted to alter the match's trajectory.<ref>{{cite web|title= Aizawl breach Sreenidi Deccan in their own den|url=https://i-league.org/aizawl-breach-sreenidi-deccan-in-their-own-den/?fbclid=IwAR1gZ5Qt-Y3yjM5AiaIMONObJKu9SC49eywi_7zsJJHeNWK4deNlzzRhN3Y|access-date=14 November 2023|website=i league official}}</ref> He made another assist in the 46th minute of the match against [[Delhi FC]] on 17 November 2023 at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.
<ref>{{cite web|title= Aizawl FC vs Delhi FC|url=https://www.sofascore.com/team/football/aizawl-fc/212389|access-date=26 December 2023|website=sofascore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Aizawl FC vs Delhi FC|url=https://www.flashscore.com/match/0QyqI0CC/#/match-summary/match-summary|access-date=26 December 2023|website=flashscore.com}}</ref> He registered one more goal to his name in their home match against [[Namdhari FC]] on 21 November 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title= Aizawl FC had an easy outing on home ground|url=https://i-league.org/aizawl-fc-had-an-easy-outing-on-home-ground/?fbclid=IwAR0PXsclQOdRBAntbSE1YEvzBQzRmQNy1XvNHd4TZZqdeey0lIEjVZ6I4q8|access-date=21 November 2023|website=i league official}}</ref> In a crucial I-League encounter against [[Gokulam Kerala FC]] on Saturday, 16 December 2023, he executed a deceptive body feint to outmaneuver a Gokulam Kerala defender and sent a well-directed low cross into the box and registered an assist to his name one more time.<ref>{{cite web|title= Aizawl FC, Gokulam Kerala FC slug it out for a draw on the hills|url=https://i-league.org/aizawl-fc-gokulam-kerala-fc-slug-it-out-for-a-draw-on-the-hills/|access-date=21 December 2023|website=i league official}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Aizawl FC, Gokulam Kerala settle for a point|url=https://khelnow.com/football/2023-12-indian-football-i-league-aizawl-fc-vs-gokulam-kerala-report|access-date=21 December 2023|website=khelnow}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Gokulam Kerala hold Aizawl FC at home|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/i-league-gokulam-kerala-hold-aizawl-fc-at-home-shillong-lajong-beaten/articleshow/106058327.cms|access-date=21 December 2023|website=times of India}}</ref>

During the season of 2023-24, Aizawl FC played a total of 22 matches against other I-League clubs due to the cancellation by AIFF of their two home games against [[TRAU FC|TRAU]] and [[NEROCA FC|NEROCA]] because of the state of affairs in Manipur.<ref>{{cite web|title= AIFF cancel Aizawl FC's home games against TRAU and NEROCA|url=https://khelnow.com/football/indian-football-i-league-aizawl-fc-trau-neroca-manipur-violence-202404|access-date=28 August 2024|website=khelnow}}</ref> Mafela missed only one match of the season due to injuries and was in the squad for 21 matches and appeared in those 21 of 22 matches and set a record for the season as the player who made the greatest number of appearances. He also registered a record for making the greatest number of assists for [[Aizawl FC|Aizawl]] during the season with 4 assists.

=== Mohammedan SC (Kolkata) ===
[[File:K Lalrinfela (Mafela) Jersey No. 21.jpg|thumb|K Lalrinfela on the pitch for Mohammedan SC in an ISL match against FC Goa on 21 September, 2024]]
On 1 June 2024, Mafela signed for [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan SC]] on a three-year contract which came into force with effect from 1 July 2024 and shall remain in force for a period until 31 August 2027.<ref>{{cite web|title= Transfer of K. Lalrinfela to Mohammedan SC|url=https://x.com/MohammedanSC/status/1831965022735757741/photo/1|access-date=7 September 2024|website=x.com}}</ref> He wears Jersey number 21 for [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan SC]]. He made his professional debut for [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan SC]] in an [[Indian Super League]] (ISL) match against [[FC Goa]] at the [[Kishore Bharati Krirangan|Kishore Bharati Krirangan Stadium]] in [[Kolkata]] on 22 September 2024, which ended in a 1–1 draw even though [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan SC]] dominated the game for 94 minutes. He came on as a substitute for [[Amarjit Singh Kiyam]] in the 69th-minute of the game and registered a passing accuracy percentage of 90.

=== Termination of the contract ===
A three-year contract signed between [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan SC]] and the player on 1st June, 2024 which covered from 1st July, 2024 to 31st August, 2027 was terminated with mutual consent with immediate effect on 11th March, 2025 at the initiative of the player with a just cause.

=== Odisha FC ===
He has signed a three-year contract, with an option to extend by an additional year, to be effective from 1st June, 2025 with [[Odisha FC]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Odisha FC welcomes the new midfield maestro - 𝗟𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗮, 𝙖𝙠𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙖|url=https://x.com/OdishaFC/status/1933887475992412656/photo/1|access-date=15 June 2025|website=x.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Odisha FC signs midfielder Lalrinfela Khiangte|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/isl/isl-news/odisha-fc-transfer-news-lalrinfela-khiangte-contract-details/article69695318.ece|access-date=15 June 2025|website=sportstar}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Lalrinfela aka Mafela has joined @OdishaFC on a 3+1 year deal|url=https://x.com/90rfootball/status/1933888913921233133|access-date=15 June 2025|website=90rfootball}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Khiangte joins Odisha FC from Mohammedan SC|url=https://x.com/footglobeindia/status/1933896785266946301/photo/1|access-date=15 June 2025|website=footglobeindia}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==

{{updated|7 March 2026}}<ref>{{soccerway|k-lalrinfela/882927}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="4"|League
!colspan="3"|Super Cup
!colspan="2"|[[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]
!colspan="3"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Assists!!Apps!!Goals!!Assists!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Assists
|-
| rowspan="1" |[[Bengaluru FC Reserves and Academy|Bengaluru B]]
|[[2018–19 I-League 2nd Division|2018–19]]
| rowspan="1" |[[I-League 2|I-League 2nd Division]]
|1||0||0||-||-||-||-||-||1||0||0
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Aizawl FC|Aizawl]]
|[[2022–23 I-League|2022–23]]
| rowspan="2" |[[I-League]]
|20||1||2||3{{efn|name=DurandCup|Appearance(s) in [[2023 Indian Super Cup]]}}||-||1||-||-||23||1||3
|-
|{{nowrap|[[2023–24 Aizawl FC season|2023–24]]}}
|21||2||4||0||—||—||—||—||21||2||4
|-
! colspan="2" |Aizawl total
!41!!3!!6!!3!!0!!1!!0!!0!!44!!3!!7
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|[[2024–25 Mohammedan SC (Kolkata) season|2024–25]]
| rowspan="1" |[[Indian Super League]]
|11||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||11||—||—
|-
! colspan="2" |Mohammedan SC total
!11!!—!!—!!—!!—!!—!!—!!—!!11!!—!!—
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Odisha FC|Odisha FC]]
|[[2025–26 Odisha FC season|2025–26]]
| rowspan="1" |[[Indian Super League]]
|9||1||3||—||—||—||—||—||9||1||3
|-
! colspan="2" |Odisha FC total
!9!!1!!3!!—!!—!!—!!—!!—!!9!!1!!3
|-
! colspan="3" |Career total
!62!!4!!9!!3!!0!!1!!0!!0!!65!!4!!10
|}
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lalrinfela, K}}
[[Category:2000 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian men's footballers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Footballers from Mizoram]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Aizawl FC players]]
[[Category:Mohammedan SC (Kolkata) players]]
[[Category:I-League players]]
[[Category:Indian Super League players]]
[[Category:Odisha FC players]]

K. Lalrinfela - Revision history

LouJ11418910501 at 13:33, 8 May 2026