For years, Sunil Chhetri has held the title of the most prolific goal-scorer in Indian football, boasting an impressive tally of 252 goals for both club and country. Get to know his goals tally.
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Sunil Chhetri: India’s Football Icon
Sunil Chhetri is esteemed as one of India’s finest footballers, boasting a career spanning over two decades filled with individual and team achievements.
Hailing from Secunderabad, Chhetri commenced his journey with Mohun Bagan in 2002 before venturing into international waters, representing the Major League Soccer team Kansas City Wizards in 2010 and the reserve team of Sporting CP in Portugal in 2012.
With accolades such as seven-time AIFF Player of the Year, Chhetri’s legacy extends across renowned Indian clubs like East Bengal, Dempo, and Bengaluru FC, where he clinched numerous titles including the I-League, ISL, and Super Cup.
Moreover, Chhetri’s contributions to the Indian national team are illustrious, marked by triumphs in prestigious tournaments such as the Nehru Cup, SAFF Championship, and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, culminating in India’s qualification for the AFC Asian Cup in 2011.
Central to Chhetri’s acclaim is his remarkable goal-scoring ability, which firmly establishes his position among football’s elite.
Sunil Chhetri’s Goal-Scoring Journey
Since his inaugural senior professional goal for Mohun Bagan during the National Football League season (2002-03), Sunil Chhetri, an icon of Indian football, has carved an illustrious path of goal-scoring milestones for both club and country.
With an impressive tally of 94 goals in 150 international appearances, Chhetri stands as the third highest goal-scorer among active players in international matches, trailing only behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Moreover, he secures the fourth position in the overall list.
Debuting internationally in 2005, Chhetri marked his presence with a goal against Pakistan. However, it was in the 2011 SAFF Championship in New Delhi where he etched his name in history. Surpassing Indian legend IM Vijayan’s record, Chhetri netted a remarkable seven goals during the tournament, leading India to victory and breaking the record for the most goals scored in a single edition. This feat also propelled him to surpass Vijayan as the highest goal-scorer in Indian football.
Sunil Chhetri’s International Goals by Competition
| Competition | Goals | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| SAFF Championship | 23 | 27 |
| FIFA World Cup qualifiers | 10 | 23 |
| Nehru Cup | 9 | 14 |
| AFC Asian Cup qualifiers | 8 | 12 |
| AFC Challenge Cup | 4 | 8 |
| Intercontinental Cup | 13 | 11 |
| AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers | 3 | 6 |
| AFC Asian Cup | 4 | 8 |
| King’s Cup | 1 | 1 |
| Merdeka Cup | 1 | 1 |
| International friendlies | 18 | 39 |
In his career at the club level, Sunil Chhetri has recorded 158 goals across 365 appearances, establishing himself as the leading Indian goal-scorer in the ISL. Bartholomew Ogbeche remains the only player to have surpassed him in goal-scoring within the competition.
Sunil Chhetri’s Club Goals by Club and Year
| Club (Year) | Goals | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Mohun Bagan (2002–2005) | 8 | 18 |
| JCT (2005–2008) | 22 | 48 |
| East Bengal (2008–2009) | 9 | 17 |
| Dempo (2009–2010) | 8 | 13 |
| Kansas City Wizards (2010) | 0 | 1 |
| Chirag United (2011) | 7 | 7 |
| Mohun Bagan (2011–2012) | 8 | 14 |
| Sporting CP B Team (2012–2013) | 0 | 3 |
| Churchill Brothers (2013) | 4 | 8 |
| Bengaluru FC (2013–2015) | 16 | 43 |
| Mumbai City (2015–2016) | 7 | 17 |
| Bengaluru FC (2016) | 5 | 14 |
| Bengaluru FC (2016–present) | 64 | 161 |
In total, Sunil Chhetri has amassed 252 goals for both club and country across 515 appearances, maintaining an impressive rate of nearly one goal per every two matches played.
FIFA recognized Chhetri’s remarkable contributions to the sport by releasing a documentary in 2022 titled ‘Captain Fantastic’, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess and his journey to becoming a football icon.
Sunil Chhetri’s Top 10 Appearances and Goals by Opposition
Sunil Chhetri’s illustrious international career is marked by notable appearances and goal-scoring achievements against various opponent countries. Here’s a glimpse into his top 10 appearances and goals by opposition nations
| Countries | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 13 | 9 |
| Kenya | 9 | 8 |
| Maldives | 8 | 6 |
| Bangladesh | 6 | 6 |
| Tajikistan | 6 | 6 |
| Afghanistan | 6 | 5 |
| Chinese Taipei | 5 | 5 |
| Cambodia | 5 | 5 |
| Pakistan | 5 | 4 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 4 | 4 |
Sunil Chhetri’s Total Goals Tally:
| Category | Goals | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| International | 94 | 150 |
| Club | 158 | 365 |
| Total | 252 | 515 |
