Wishing a very happy 40th birthday to Sunil Chhetri, the man who has inspired millions with his extraordinary journey in Indian football.
With 94 goals, the Indian football legend holds the fourth spot on the list of all-time international goal scorers. He is in third place among active footballers, right behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.
One of the best goalscorers to ever play for India, Sunil Chhetri celebrates his 40th birthday today. Born on August 3, 1984, in Secunderabad, Chhetri has been the key striker for coaches during his international and club career. Chhetri played for India for 19 years and scored his first goal in his debut match in 2005.
With 94 goals, the Indian football legend holds the fourth spot on the list of all-time international goal scorers. He is in third place among active footballers, right behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo. Chhetri recently announced his retirement from international football and played for 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 played for 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 play on multiple continents. In the domestic league, Chhetri played for top teams like East Bengal (2008-2009), Dempo (2009-2010), Mumbai City FC (2015-2016), and Bengaluru FC.
Sunil Chhetri had a great series of performances during his time at Bengaluru FC and won the I-League (2014 and 2016), Indian Super League (ISL) in 2019, Super Cup (2018), and led the team to the AFC Cup final in 2016.
In international football, Sunil Chhetri has led India to many 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 has also received prestigious awards like the Padma Shri, Arjuna Award, and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.
Goals
Sunil Chhetri scored 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.
