Countless onlookers would still get goosebumps when they hear the name Sunil Chhetri. A name synonymous with guile, deft control over the ball and clinical finish. There is an aura to his movement when the Indian captain touches the ball.
Sunil Chhetri once again stole the spotlight as he surpassed Lionel Messi to become the second-highest goalscorer in international football among active players.
He scored a sensational brace against Tajikistan in the opening fixture of the Intercontinental Cup and in the process, he overtook Messi.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo is well ahead of Sunil Chhetri as the former still tops the list of highest goal-scorers among active footballers in the modern era. He has scored 88 goals for Portugal.
Chhetri now has 70 goals to his kitty for India as he surpassed the tally of Lionel Messi’s 68 goals.
Sunil Chhetri was named as the 2017 All India Football Federation (RIFF) Player of the Year by the national body. Inspirational skipper Chhetri recently became the 2nd Indian footballer to play 100 international games after Bhaichunq Bhutia. Chhetri is a consistent striker for both India and Bengaluru FC.
Sunil Chhetri chipped 20 goals for the Blues of Bengaluru in 26 caps across the Indian Super League (ISL), Super Cup and AFC Cup in the 2017-18 season. He also continued his goalscoring form when he scored 7 goals in 16 matches for the Blues in the I-League 2017 before they climbed ladders to the cash-rich ISL.
The star striker has earlier won the AIFF Player of the Year on 4 occasions before 2018. He won it in 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2014. He played a spectacular role in the Intercontinental Cup where he scored 8 goals in 4 appearances including a stellar hat-trick against Taiwanese Side. We also witnessed India lifting the Cup with tons of pride.
With Indian fans’ support, it is very much certain that the Indian football revolution has just begun. The support was not just in the stadium but was also seen off the field as well.