Sunil Chhetri has become the fifth-highest international goalscorer of all time, overtaking the legendary Ferenc Puskas, who scored 84 goals for Hungary. The Indian captain scored against the Kyrgyz Republic in their 2-0 win recently, to win the 2023 Tri-Nation Football Tournament.
Sandesh Jhingan was also on the scoresheet to help the Blue Tigers win the tournament in front of 29,000 supporters at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex in Imphal.
Sunil Chhetri overtakes Ferenc Puskas as the 5th highest international goalscorer of all-time
While Sunil Chhetri has achieved his 85-goal tally in 132 games, Puskas scored almost a goal every game, having recorded his 84-goal stat in 85 games only.
Chhetri has been a talismanic figure for the national team not only in terms of goals and assists, but also leadership. He is a very strong presence on the pitch for club and country. And in spite of being 38 years old, he is showing very few signs of his age and could still give a few more years before calling it a day.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ali Daei and Mokhtar Dahari are the four players ahead of the Indian skipper. Messi scored his 102nd goal last night as Argentina won against Curacao in a friendly, and the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was able to score a hat-trick.
