Sunil Chhetri: India's goalscoring machine
Sunil Chhetri is both the highest goal scorer and the most capped player of the Indian football team. He is currently the fifth highest goal scorer in international football, with 80 goals in 125 matches.
Image credit: PA Images Sunil Chhetri with his coach Igor StimacGoal scoring machine
He made headlines when for a brief period, he became the second-highest goalscorer in September 2019, just behind Cristiano Ronaldo and with more goals than Lionel Messi.
The Indian marksman can lead the team, score under pressure and get the ball rolling. Sunil Chhetri has achieved legendary status in India due to his achievements and goal-scoring abilities.
As of March 8, 2022, the Indian forwards have scored 80 goals in 125 matches. He has an incredible goal to game ratio, standing at 0.64.
Sunil Chhetri began his club career after he was scouted by Mohan Bhagun as a young boy, He played for them from 2002-2005 and 2011-2012, shooting 16 goals for them in just 32 matches.
He was the top Indian scorer of the Indian Super League in 2017-18 with 14 goals and won the Hero of the League award.
The following year, he was the top scorer for Bengaluru and helped them win the 2018-19 Indian Super League by scoring nine goals.
He scored eight goals in 2020-2021, making him the top scorer for Bengaluru for the third consecutive year.
Awards and accolade
Sunil Chhetri was a part of the Indian squad when they won the Nehru Cup in 2007, 2009 and 2012.
He helped India qualify for the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in the past 27 years by scoring three goals against Tajikistan in the final match of the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup and to win the SAFF Championship in 2011, 2015 and 2021.
He has been named AIFF player of the year by the All India Football Federation six times in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018–19.
For his contributions to football in India, he has been honored by Padma Shri Award in 2019. In 2021, he became the first footballer to receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Major League
Sunil Chhetri has also caught the attention of foreign football clubs with his wonderful goal scoring exploits and ball control. He was signed by Kansas City Wizards in March 2010.
On April 14, 2010, he became the third Indian player to play for a team outside South Asia and the first Indian to play in Major League Soccer.
A true leader with terrific goal-scoring abilities. Chhetri has become the legend of Indian football.