Sunil Chhetri is an Indian professional footballer who represented the India national football team as a forward between 2005 and 2024. He is the country's all-time top goal scorer and most-capped player. [1] [2] [3] He has scored 94 goals in 151 [a] official international appearances since his debut on 12 June 2005 against Pakistan. [b] [12] [13] [14]
On 9 December 2011, Chhetri netted twice in a match (also known as a brace) in India's 3–1 semi-final win over the Maldives in the 2011 SAFF Championship to take his tally to 31, [15] thus becoming his country's all-time leading goalscorer surpassing the 29 set by I. M. Vijayan. [1] [16] With his 94 international goals, he is currently the third-highest international goalscorer among active players, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Lionel Messi of Argentina. He is also the highest active goalscorer from Asia. On 21 June 2023, Chhetri scored a hat-trick for India in a 4–0 win over the Pakistan to take his tally to 90 international goals, thus becoming the second-highest international goalscorer from Asia of all time. [17] His tally of 94 puts him the fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of international football. [18]
Chhetri scored his first ever international goal during his first ever international appearance on 12 June 2005 against Pakistan. [14] Chhetri's first international tournament for India was the 2007 Nehru Cup where he scored four goals in total: two against Cambodia, one against Syria, and one against Kyrgyzstan, which helped India to win their first Nehru Cup title. [19] [20] Chhetri's 50th goal came during his 88th match in a 3–2 victory against the Maldives in the 2015 SAFF Championship semi-final on 31 December 2015. [21] He is the only Indian footballer to have scored 50 or more international goals. Between all of his 94 goals: 23 came in SAFF Championship matches, 18 came in friendlies, 13 came in Intercontinental Cup, 10 in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, 9 in the Nehru Cup, 8 in AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, 4 in AFC Asian Cup finals, 1 each in the King's Cup and the Merdeka Tournament, and the rest have come in the AFC Challenge Cup finals and its qualifiers. [12] Chhetri has scored four international hat-tricks, the most by any Indian and has scored braces on sixteen occasions. [1] [12] He has scored nine times against Nepal, the most against a team. He has also scored eleven international goals at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, his most at a single ground. He has scored 16 out of his 94 goals from penalty kicks.
‡ | Indicates goal was scored from a penalty kick |
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Goal | Cap | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 1 | 12 June 2005 | Ayub Stadium, Quetta | Pakistan | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly | [13] |
2. | 7 | 17 August 2007 | Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi | Cambodia | 4–0 | 6–0 | 2007 Nehru Cup (Friendly tournament) | [20] |
3. | 5–0 | |||||||
4. | 9 | 23 August 2007 | Syria | 1–0 | 2–3 | |||
5. | 10 | 26 August 2007 | Kyrgyzstan | 2–0 | 3–0 | |||
6. | 12 | 8 October 2007 | Saida International Stadium, Sidon | Lebanon | 1–0 | 1–4 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | [22] |
7. | 13 | 30 October 2007 | Fatorda Stadium, Margao | 1–0 | 2–2 | [23] | ||
8. | 14 | 24 May 2008 | Chinese Taipei | 2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly | [24] | |
9. | 15 | 3–0 | ||||||
10. | 16 | 3 June 2008 | Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Malé | Nepal | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2008 SAFF Championship | [25] [26] |
11. | 18 | 11 June 2008 | Bhutan | 1–1 | 2–1 | [25] [27] | ||
12. | 24 | 7 August 2008 | Gachibowli Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad | Myanmar | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2008 AFC Challenge Cup | [28] [29] |
13. | 25 | 13 August 2008 | Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi | Tajikistan | 1–0 | 4–1 | [30] [31] | |
14. | 3–0 | |||||||
15. | 4–1 | |||||||
16. | 28 | 23 August 2009 | Kyrgyzstan | 2–0 ‡ | 2–1 | 2009 Nehru Cup (Friendly tournament) | [32] | |
17. | 36 | 8 October 2010 | Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune | Vietnam | 1–0 | 3–1 | Friendly | [33] [34] |
18. | 2–0 | |||||||
19. | 3–1 | |||||||
20. | 39 | 14 January 2011 | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha | Bahrain | 2–4 | 2–5 | 2011 AFC Asian Cup | [35] |
21. | 40 | 18 January 2011 | Al-Gharafa Stadium, Doha | South Korea | 1–2 ‡ | 1–4 | ||
22. | 41 | 21 March 2011 | Petaling Jaya Stadium, Petaling Jaya | Chinese Taipei | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification | [11] |
23. | 44 | 10 July 2011 | Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Malé | Maldives | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly | |
24. | 50 | 16 November 2011 | Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata | Malaysia | 1–0 | 3–2 | ||
25. | 3–1 | |||||||
26. | 51 | 3 December 2011 | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi | Afghanistan | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2011 SAFF Championship | [36] |
27. | 52 | 5 December 2011 | Bhutan | 4–0 | 5–0 | [37] | ||
28. | 5–0 | |||||||
29. | 53 | 7 December 2011 | Sri Lanka | 2–0 | 3–0 | [38] | ||
30. | 54 | 9 December 2011 | Maldives | 2–1 ‡ | 3–1 | [39] [40] | ||
31. | 3–1 | |||||||
32. | 55 | 11 December 2011 | Afghanistan | 1–0 ‡ | 4–0 | [39] [40] | ||
33. | 59 | 22 August 2012 | Syria | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2012 Nehru Cup (Friendly tournament) | [41] | |
34. | 60 | 25 August 2012 | Maldives | 1–0 ‡ | 3–0 | [42] | ||
35. | 3–0 | |||||||
36. | 62 | 2 September 2012 | Cameroon | 2–2 ‡ | 2–2 | [43] | ||
37. | 66 | 4 March 2013 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon | Guam | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification | [44] |
38. | 4–0 | |||||||
39. | 70 | 3 September 2013 | Halchowk Stadium, Kathmandu | Bangladesh | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2013 SAFF Championship | [45] |
40. | 73 | 15 November 2013 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri | Philippines | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly | [46] |
41. | 74 | 19 November 2013 | Nepal | 1–0 | 2–0 | [47] | ||
42. | 75 | 5 March 2014 | Fatorda Stadium, Goa | Bangladesh | 1–0 | 2–2 | [48] | |
43. | 2–2 | |||||||
44. | 76 | 6 October 2014 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri | Palestine | 1–1 | 2–3 | [49] | |
45. | 77 | 12 March 2015 | Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati | Nepal | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | [50] |
46. | 2–0 | |||||||
47. | 79 | 11 June 2015 | Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore | Oman | 1–1 | 1–2 | [51] | |
48. | 80 | 16 June 2015 | Guam F.A. National Training Center, Harmon | Guam | 1–2 | 1–2 | [52] | |
49. | 87 | 27 December 2015 | Trivandrum International Stadium, Trivandrum | Nepal | 2–1 | 4–1 | 2015 SAFF Championship | [53] |
50. | 88 | 31 December 2015 | Maldives | 1–0 | 3–2 | [21] | ||
51. | 89 | 3 January 2016 | Afghanistan | 2–1 | 2–1 | [54] | ||
52. | 92 | 3 September 2016 | Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai | Puerto Rico | 2–1 | 4–1 | Friendly | [55] |
53. | 93 | 22 March 2017 | Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh | Cambodia | 1–0 | 3–2 | Friendly | [56] |
54. | 94 | 28 March 2017 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon | Myanmar | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification | [57] |
55. | 95 | 13 June 2017 | Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore | Kyrgyzstan | 1–0 | 1–0 | ||
56. | 97 | 11 October 2017 | Macau | 2–1 | 4–1 | |||
57. | 98 | 14 November 2017 | Fatorda Stadium, Margao | Myanmar | 1–1 ‡ | 2–2 | ||
58. | 99 | 1 June 2018 | Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai | Chinese Taipei | 1–0 | 5–0 | 2018 Intercontinental Cup (Friendly tournament) | [58] |
59. | 2–0 | |||||||
60. | 4–0 | |||||||
61. | 100 | 4 June 2018 | Kenya | 1–0 ‡ | 3–0 | [59] | ||
62. | 3–0 | |||||||
63. | 101 | 7 June 2018 | New Zealand | 1–0 | 1–2 | [60] | ||
64. | 102 | 10 June 2018 | Kenya | 1–0 | 2–0 | [61] | ||
65. | 2–0 | |||||||
66. | 105 | 6 January 2019 | Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi | Thailand | 1–0 ‡ | 4–1 | 2019 AFC Asian Cup | [62] |
67. | 2–1 | |||||||
68. | 108 | 5 June 2019 | Chang Arena, Buriram | Curaçao | 1–2 ‡ | 1–3 | 2019 King's Cup (Friendly tournament) | [63] |
69. | 109 | 7 July 2019 | The Arena, Ahmedabad | Tajikistan | 1–0 ‡ | 2–4 | 2019 Intercontinental Cup (Friendly tournament) | [64] |
70. | 2–0 | |||||||
71. | 110 | 13 July 2019 | North Korea | 2–4 | 2–5 | [65] | ||
72. | 112 | 5 September 2019 | Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati | Oman | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | [66] |
73. | 117 | 7 June 2021 | Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha | Bangladesh | 1–0 | 2–0 | [67] | |
74. | 2–0 | |||||||
75. | 120 | 5 September 2021 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu | Nepal | 2–0 | 2–1 | Friendly | [68] |
76. | 121 | 4 October 2021 | Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Malé | Bangladesh | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2021 SAFF Championship | [69] |
77. | 123 | 10 October 2021 | Nepal | 1–0 | 1–0 | [70] | ||
78. | 124 | 13 October 2021 | Maldives | 2–1 | 3–1 | [71] | ||
79. | 3–1 | |||||||
80. | 125 | 16 October 2021 | Nepal | 1–0 | 3–0 | [72] | ||
81. | 127 | 8 June 2022 | Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata | Cambodia | 1–0 ‡ | 2–0 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification | [73] |
82. | 2–0 | |||||||
83. | 128 | 11 June 2022 | Afghanistan | 1–0 | 2–1 | [74] | ||
84. | 129 | 14 June 2022 | Hong Kong | 2–0 | 4–0 | [75] | ||
85. | 133 | 28 March 2023 | Khuman Lampak Main Stadium, Imphal | Kyrgyzstan | 2–0 ‡ | 2–0 | Friendly | [76] |
86. | 135 | 12 June 2023 | Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar | Vanuatu | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2023 Intercontinental Cup (Friendly tournament) | [77] |
87. | 137 | 18 June 2023 | Lebanon | 1–0 | 2–0 | [78] | ||
88. | 138 | 21 June 2023 | Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore | Pakistan | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2023 SAFF Championship | [79] |
89. | 2–0 ‡ | |||||||
90. | 3–0 ‡ | |||||||
91. | 139 | 24 June 2023 | Nepal | 1–0 | 2–0 | [80] | ||
92. | 140 | 27 June 2023 | Kuwait | 1–0 | 1–1 | [81] | ||
93. | 143 | 13 October 2023 | Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2023 Merdeka Tournament (Friendly tournament) | [82] |
94. | 150 | 26 March 2024 | Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati | Afghanistan | 1–0 ‡ | 1–2 | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification | [83] |
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Goal mins | Result | Competition | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 13 August 2008 | Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi | Tajikistan | 9', 19', 75' | 4–1 | 2008 AFC Challenge Cup | [30] |
2. | 8 October 2010 | Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune | Vietnam | 25', 48', 72' | 3–1 | Friendly | [33] |
3. | 1 June 2018 | Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai | Chinese Taipei | 14', 34', 62' | 5–0 | 2018 Intercontinental Cup | [58] |
4. | 21 June 2023 | Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore | Pakistan | 10', 16' (pen.), 73' (pen.) | 4–0 | 2023 SAFF Championship | [17] |
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