Sunil Chhetri passes Lionel Messi in international goals

36 years old Indian football, Sunil Chhetri, has surpassed Argentina’s Lionel Messi and has become second-highest active international goal-scorer with 74 strikes.

Highlights

Chhetri now leads Barcelona star Messi by two goals and is placed above Ali Mabkhout of UAE, who is at third place with 73 strikes. He achieved this feat against Bangladesh in joint preliminary qualifying round match for 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

Sunil Chhetri

Indian professional footballer plays as striker or winger and is captain of both Indian Super League side Bengaluru FC and Indian national football team. He is popularly known as Captain Fantastic. Following Cristiano Ronaldo, Chhetri is the second-highest international goal scorer among active players while 10th highest of all time.

Background

His professional career started at Mohun Bagan in 2002. He signed for Major League Soccer in 2010 and become third player from subcontinent of note to go abroad. He helped India to win Nehru cup in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2011 SAFF Championship. He has been conferred with AIFF Player of the Year for a record six times in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 as well as in 2018–19.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2021