Sunil Chhetri is one of the most iconic footballers in Indian football history. Born on 3 August 1984, Chhetri began his professional football journey in India before becoming the face and captain of the Indian national football team. He made his international debut for India against Pakistan in Quetta on 12 June 2005, scoring in his very first appearance.
Over the years, Chhetri became India’s all-time leading international goalscorer and one of the most recognised footballers in Asia. He represented India in major tournaments including the AFC Asian Cup, SAFF Championship, AFC Challenge Cup and Intercontinental Cup. His achievements include winning the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008, multiple SAFF Championships and Intercontinental Cup titles.
Sunil Chhetri Highest International Goals
Chhetri’s biggest goal-scoring achievement in a single international match is three goals — a hat-trick. He has scored four international hat-tricks for India.
His four hat-tricks came against:
- Tajikistan – 2008 AFC Challenge Cup Final: Chhetri scored three goals in India’s 4-1 victory in New Delhi.
- Vietnam – 2010 Friendly: He completed another hat-trick in Pune.
- Chinese Taipei – 2018 Intercontinental Cup: Chhetri scored three goals as India defeated Chinese Taipei 5-0 in Mumbai.
- Pakistan – 2023 SAFF Championship: Chhetri scored three goals in India’s 4-0 victory in Bengaluru, taking his international tally to 90 at that time.
International Goal Record
Chhetri reached 94 international goals by March 2024. He then returned to international football in March 2025 and scored his 95th international goal against Maldives in a 3-0 friendly victory.
His career is also notable for his consistency. He scored in his 1st, 25th, 50th, 75th, 100th, 125th and 150th international appearances, according to AIFF records.
Sunil Chhetri’s goal-scoring record, leadership and longevity have made him one of the most important figures in Indian football. His journey from a young Indian striker to the country’s record international goalscorer remains a significant chapter in Indian football history.
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