One of the most prolific goalscorers ever to play for India, Sunil Chhetri celebrates his 40th birthday today. Born on August 3, 1984, in Secunderabad, Chhetri has been the go-to striker for the coaches during his international and club career. Chhetri played for India for 19 years and netted his first goal in his debut match in 2005.
With 94 goals, the Indian football legend claims the fourth spot on the list of all-time international goal scorers. He is at the third place among the active footballer’s list, right behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo. Chhetri recently announced his retirement from international football and represented India for the last time against Kuwait in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers earlier this year in June.
As Sunil Chhetri celebrates his 40th birthday, we take a look at his achievements, medals, career goals and records.
Achievements And Records
Sunil Chhetri is a seven-time AIFF Player of the Year winner. Chhetri represented the USA’s Major League Soccer (MLS) team Kansas City Wizards in 2010 and played for the reserve team of Sporting CP in the Portuguese football league two years later. With this, he became the first Indian footballer to feature on multiple continents. In the domestic circuit, Chhetri played for powerhouses like East Bengal (2008-2009), Dempo (2009-2010), Mumbai City FC (2015-2016) and Bengaluru FC.
Sunil Chhetri enjoyed a sensational series of performances during his stint at Bengaluru FC and won the I-League (2014 and 2016), Indian Super League (ISL) in 2019, Super Cup (2018) and led the side to the AFC Cup final in 2016.
In international football, Sunil Chhetri has guided India to innumerable titles. He won the Nehru Cup (2007, 2009, 2012) and the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in 2011, 2015 and 2021). He has also represented India at the AFC Asian Cup.
Sunil Chhetri is also the recipient of prestigious awards like Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.
Goals
Sunil Chhetri notched his first senior professional goal for Mohun Bagan in the National Football League (NFL) season (2002-03). In the history of the ISL, Chhetri holds the record for the second-highest goals scored (53).
Sunil Chhetri became the first player to score 50 goals for India. In 2021, he became the first Indian footballer to score more than 90 goals in international football.
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