Sunil Chhetri

At 39 years old, Sunil Chhetri has this physical status:

Sunil Chhetri (born 3 August 1984) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a striker or winger and captains both the Indian Super League side Bengaluru and the Indian national team.

Popularly known as Captain Fantastic, having scored the second highest number of goals in international matches among active male players after Cristiano Ronaldo, he is both the most-capped player and all-time top goalscorer for the Indian national team, with 72 goals in 115 appearances.

He is the current captain of the national team.

Sunil Chhetri was named an 'Asian Icon' by AFC on his 34th birthday.Chhetri began his professional career at Mohun Bagan in 2002.

He then moved to JCT where he scored 21 goals in 48 games.

He signed for the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer in 2010, becoming the third player from the subcontinent of note to go abroad.

However, that stint in the United States did not last long and soon he was back in India's I-League where he played for Chirag United and Mohun Bagan before going back abroad.

This time he was signed by Sporting Clube de Portugal of the Primeira Liga where he played for the club's reserve side.He helped India win the 2007 Nehru Cup, 2009 Nehru Cup, the 2012 Nehru Cup as well as the 2011 SAFF Championship.

He was also one of India's best players during the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup in which India won the tournament and thus qualified for their first AFC Asian Cup in 27 years.

He then led India in scoring during their short-lived campaign at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup with two goals.

Chhetri has also been named AIFF Player of the Year a record six times in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018–19.

Personal life

Sunil Chhetri was born on 3 August 1984 to K. B. Chhetri, a Nepali Gurkha officer in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers of the Indian Army, and Sushila Chhetri in Secunderabad, India. His father played football for the Indian Army's team while his mother and her twin sisters played for the Nepal women's national team. Chhetri started playing football from a young age taking part in various tournaments.

On 4 December 2017, Chhetri married his long time girlfriend Sonam Bhattacharya who is the daughter of former Indian international and Mohun Bagan player Subrata Bhattacharya. Sunil Chhetri was named an 'Asian Icon' by AFC on his 34th birthday in 2018. He signed a 3-year deal with global sports giant Puma starting from 2020.

On 27 September 2022, FIFA launched a documentary on FIFA+, of three episodes named 'Captain Fantastic', which captures a lot of what is unseen and unheard about Chhetri, be it his pre-teen anguish, his debut for India at age of 20, his romance with his future wife and his early days and peak as a football player with many awards and records under his belt.

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Club career

Chhetri joined Mohun Bagan of the National Football League after playing for New Delhi's City Football Club. Chhetri had scored four goals in his first season with the club, the 2002–03 season, placing him in seventh place in the table. Chhetri scored only two goals in the coming season. The first came against Sporting Goa, while the second came against Indian Bank, placing Mohun Bagan in ninth place in the bottom half of the table. Chhetri scored only two goals in the 2004-2005 season, this time, Mohun Bagan finished eighth in the league and remained in the National Football League on goal difference.

Chhetri signed for JCT in 2005-2006, and the 2005–06 season was his fifth season. Chhetri scored three goals in the 2002-season. He scored twice against Salgaocar before the third came against Sporting Goa, where JCT finished in sixth place last year. In comparison, Chhetri scored two hat-tricks for Delhi in the group stages of the 61st Santosh Trophy against both Orissa and Railways. Despite Chhetri's best efforts, Delhi was eliminated in the pre-quarter final round after losing 1–0 to Tamil Nadu in extra time.

Chhetri scored a total of 12 goals in the league for JCT during the 2006-07 season, second behind Dempo. The matches against his old club Mohun Bagan and Dempo were two of his best games of the season, with him scoring braces in both matches as JCT defeated both games 2–0 and 3–2 respectively.

Chhetri scored seven goals in JCT's first season of the I-League, finishing third in third place. During the season's last match, he was his best brace of the season against Salgaocar. Chhetri was named AIFF Player of the Year award for 2007 for his outstanding form and results for his team and country during the campaign, but not this season.

It was reported that Chhetri had sparked an interest from international clubs in October 2008. These clubs were Leeds United of the Football League One and Estoril Praia of the Liga de Honra, Portugal's second division. "Nothing has been confirmed as yet," Chhetri said in a radio interview, but "I believe I am close to getting there." He was reportedly in danger of signing in England, as he did. However, a move never came to an end.

Chhetri joined fellow I-League side East Bengal before the 2008-09 season began. He scored in the 28th minute as East Bengal defeated Chirag United on his debut against Chirag United on September 26, 2008.

Chhetri then went on to score a crucial goal for East Bengal during the Federation Cup in which he scored his only goal against his former team, JCT, which resulted in East Bengal's promotion of the semi-finals. East Bengal face arch-rivals and another of Sunil's former clubs, Mohun Bagan, in which he missed the vital point in the penalty shootout as East Bengal was officially disqualified from the tournament.

Reports came out early this season, with two Major League Soccer clubs being particularly interested in Chhetri, as well as his international teammate Steven Dias. These two MLS sides were rumored to be the Los Angeles Galaxy and Washington, D.C. United. Chhetri, 29, arrived in Coventry, England, on January 25, 2009, marking the beginning of his MLS trial at Coventry City of the Football League Championship, thus opposing MLS. However, four days later, Coventry City manager Chris Coleman said that they would not be following their interest in Chhetri. Chhetri said in a four-months postponement, he would return to Coventry City in June 2009 for another extended trial. That never happened, but it never came true.

Chhetri was released by East Bengal and signed a two-year deal with another I-League side, Dempo, on May 22, 2009. A provision in his deal provided him with the right to resign for trials in the event of a divorce if he so desired to.

Celtic's Scottish Premier League team Celtic were linked with a move to sign Chhetri on August 7, 2009. Chhetri had been watching Chhetri during a pre-season friendly against Santboià, a Segunda División B team, in a pre-season fixture. "I'm waiting to hear feedback from Celtic," Chhetri's chief scout and then another scout arrived to watch the game, I'll let you know when I find out."

Chhetri had signed a three-year deal with English Football League Championship side Queens Park Rangers, but the British government had refused him a work permit. Chhetri was refused a work permit because India was not in the top 70 percent of the FIFA World Rankings, according to an article on the Football Players' Association of India's official website. Chhetri, on the other hand, was optimistic: "But it is not the end of the world." "I will continue to work for my country and my club Dempo, who have been extremely helpful."

Chhetri was on trial with the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer in March 2010 and that he had appeared in their pre-season games. He officially signed for the team on March 24, 2010, becoming the third Indian to play outside of South Asia and the first Indian to play in MLS. "One thing we really love about Sunil is that he is a craftsman," the Wizards' head coach Peter Vermes said. He's very sharp on technology, and he's a guy with strong attacking tendencies."

Chhetri started for the Wizards on April 14th in a play-in game against the Colorado Rapids in which he started but was forced to leave early in the game after Kansas City lost the match 1–2. Chhetri will play in a mid-season friendly against Manchester United on July 23, 2010. However, this sparked controversies because he hadn't yet played in a league match. Chhetri played for the Wizards against Manchester United on July 25, 2010, when the team defeated Kansas City 2–1.

Chhetri would not participate for the India national team until the 2011 AFC Asian Cup concludes, however, the next day. Chhetri had officially left the team on February 5, 2011, the team announced on February 5th.

Chirag United had beaten United Sikkim to the signing of Sunil Chhetri for the remainder of the 2010-11 I-League season, according to the tenacious administrator on February 10, 2011. Chhetri scored his first goal for Chirag United against Dempo on April 3, 2011, but Dempo won the match 4–2. Chhetri then scored a brace against ONGC on April 29 to help Chirag avoid a 2–2 draw.

Chhetri has signed a one-year contract with the club on July 22, 2011.

Chhetri had signed a two-year deal with Sporting CP and would play in their reserve team, according to a tweet on July 4th, 2012. He made his debut with the team against Freamunde in which he won the game 2–0 in the 85th minute as Sporting CP B retained the match 2–0.

Chhetri would be loaned out to Churchill Brothers in the I-League for the remainder of the season, according to a statement on February 13. In the 2013 AFC Cup, Chhetri scored 0–3 as Churchill Brothers began with his debut for Churchill Brothers against Kitchee on February 26, 2013. On March 12, 2013, he scored in his first match for Churchill Brothers, who lost in the 27th minute as Churchill Brothers drew the match 2–2. Chhetri had scored four goals in eight games as he helped Churchill Brothers win their second ever I-League title.

Chhetri signed with Bengaluru's new direct-entry I-League side on July 19, 2013, following his release from Sporting CP. In his first game against Mohun Bagan on September 22, 2013, he made his club debut against the club in which he appeared as a 46th-minute replacement for Beikhokhei Beingaichho. Bengaluru fought to a 1-1 draw. Chhetri scored his first goal for the side against Rangdajied United in which he found the ball in the 67th minute as Bengaluru defeated 3–0.

Chhetri scored from the penalty spot in the 57th minute against Bengaluru, allowing Bengaluru FC to win by 2–2 draw. He then scored his first brace of the season against Shillong Lajong on December 1, 2013, when he scored his 7th and 34th goals aided the team to a 2–1 win. In the upcoming match against former club Churchill Brothers Chhetri, then scored another brace as he led Bengaluru FC to a 3-1 victory. In the very next match against Mohammedan, he led Bengaluru FC to a 3–2 victory in Kolkata, and he scored his third brace in a row.

Chhetri led Bengaluru's second half of the season with a goal against Salgaocar, his ninth of the season, as he led the Bangalore team to a 2–1 victory. Bengaluru FC defeated Sporting Goa 5–3 on January 15, 2014, with him scoring another goal in the team's first Federation Cup match against Sporting Goa. Chhetri led Bengaluru FC to their first ever I-League title in their debut season, with 14 goals and 7 assists in 23 appearances on the season.

Chhetri started playing and scoring three times in the 2014 Durand Cup, but missing the penalty in the semi-final against Salgaocar, which was the decisive penalty drop as Bengaluru crashed out.

Chhetri scored a brace in his team's first match of the 2014-15 Federation Cup against Salgaocar, a match that resulted in a tie that eventually ended 3–2 in his favor. Chhetri scored two goals from open play and one from penalty spot in their last group stage match of the cup, advancing his team to the semi finals. He maintained his form in the semi-final against Sporting Goa, helping Sean Rooney with the first goal and scoring the second goal in a match that ended 3–0 in his team's favor. Chhetri scored his sixth goal of the tournament in the final, helping the team win the 2014–15 Federation Cup. Sunil scored his first goal of the 2014-2015 season in the 7th round away from a Eugeneson Lyngdoh cross, but his team couldn't stop his team from falling 4–1. Chhetri, alongside Robin Singh and Thoi Singh, will be signed to the Indian Super League at the end of the season, according to Parth Jindal, although an agreement has been reached that they will be loaned back to Bengaluru for the upcoming ISL season.

Chhetri was purchased by Mumbai City during the 2015 Indian Super League for 1.2 crores, making him the most expensive Indian player at the auctions. He missed his team's first and second round matches in the 2015 Indian Super League season due to national team commitments, playing against Turkmenistan and Oman in Group D of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, but losing in a 2–0 loss to Chennaiyin. In his second game of the season against Roberto Carlos lead Delhi Dynamos in a 2–0 win, the first game for his team on the season, before scoring again from the penalty spot in the upcoming game against then table toppers Goa managed by Zico. In his fourth game of the season against NorthEast United, Chhetri made history by scoring a hat-trick and taking his total number to 6 goals in four games. He was the top scorer for Mumbai City for the season as he scored 7 goals. He was also one of the top scorers for Mumbai City FC going forward to 2018. He returned to Mumbai colours for the 2015–16 season, but the team did well this season, winning playoffs for the first time, but national commitments and less game time kept him away from the score sheet. He signed a three-year deal with the islanders, making him the highest-paid Indian player in 2017.

Chhetri was loaned out to Bengaluru for the 2015–16 I-League season, where he scored 5 times in the league, assisting his team win the league for the second time in three years. In a round of 16 matches against Kitchee in the 2016 AFC Cup, he scored twice, leading his team to an unexpected 2–3 victory away from home. This will be Bengaluru's first appearance in the tournament's quarterfinals.

Chhetri had signed a one-year deal with the club, effectively transferring his ownership rights to the club from Mumbai City, according to Bengaluru on June 9. Bengaluru defeated Johor Darul Ta'zim in Bengaluru twice, with Chhetri scoring twice. Chhetri's second goal was a 30-yard run off the ball from C. K. Vineeth, defeated one defender, and unleashed a screamer to put Bengaluru up.

He scored 14 goals for the club in the 2017-18 Indian Super League season and became the top Indian scorer of the season. He was also the second top scorer for Bengaluru in the league and was named Hero of the League. Chhetri defeated Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super Cup in 2018. He was the topscorer for Bengaluru during the 2018–19 Indian Super League's 2018–19 season, scoring 9 goals and helping them win the 2018–19 Indian Super League championship. During Bengaluru's 2019-20 campaign, Chhetri was the country's top scorer. He scored eight goals in the 2020–21 season, making him the topscorer for Bengaluru in three seasons. Chhetri made 200 appearances for Bengaluru FC on February 15, 2021. In the last league match of the 2020-21 Indian Super League season against Jamshedpur on February 2021, he scored his 100th goal for Bengaluru FC. Chhetri had signed a two-year contract extension until 2023, according to the company on June 20. He was crowned with the team in the 2022 edition of the Durand Cup.

International career

Chhetri played his first game for the India U-20 football team in the 1–0 win over the Pakistan U-20 team in the 2004 South Asian Games in Pakistan on March 30. Chhetri scored twice for the India U-20 team against the Bhutan U-23 team in a 4–1 victory on March 3, 2004. Sunil scored his first goal for the senior India national football team against Pakistan on June 12, 2005.

Chhetri became the first Indian to land a spot in the top ten goalscorers in international football on October 15th.

The 2007 Nehru Cup was Chhetri's first international tournament. India defeated Cambodia 6–0 in the first round, with Chhetri scoring two goals. In the 3–0 victory over Kyrgyzstan, he also scored a goal in the 2–3 loss to Syria and another in the 3–0 victory over Kyrgyzstan, raising his goal total number to four. India defeated Syria 1–0 in the final to become the first champions of the tournament since 1997, with Chhetri participating in the build-up to Pappachen Pradeep's pivotal goal. India's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign began later this year. Lebanon was eliminated in the first round by Lebanon, with Chhetri scoring once in the away leg (a 4–1 loss) and once in the home leg (a 2–2 draw), resulting in a 6–3 aggregate loss.

In the group stages, the 2008 SAFF Championships featured three wins out of a possible three. Chhetri scored a goal in a 4–0 victory over Nepal in the first game. He scored once more in the championship, defeating Bhutan 2–1 in the semi-finals; this was an equalizer before Gouramangi Singh scored India's second goal to send India through to the final. In the final, India defeated the Maldives 1–0, and Chhetri played for the full 90 minutes. Chhetri played in all of the games and scored four goals in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup later this year. He was instrumental in the build-up to Climax Lawrence's victory in 1–0 victory over Afghanistan. He also played for the full 90 minutes against Tajikistan (a 1–1 draw) and Turkmenistan (a 2–1 win). Chhetri scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory after being aided by Bhaichung Bhutia to see India through to the final. Chhetri scored a hat-trick in the final against Tajikistan, enabling India to win the Cup for the first time. This automatically qualified India for the 2011 Asian Cup for the first time in 24 years. His first goal was blocked for offside by Uzbek referee Valentin Kovalenko, who changed his mind after consulting his assistant. Hundreds of fans gathered outside the stadium to welcome India's new "poster boy," and India boss Bob Houghton said, "He is amazing, brave, and honest." He never gives up.

Chhetri would miss the 2009 Nehru Cup due to injuries, according to Goal.com. He participated in the tournament, but he scored in his second match of the Nehru Cup, a penalty over Kyrgyzstan, defeating the first time he had played fully since being injured before his club's pre-season tour of Spain. He appeared in three games in the tournament's round robin stage, including the "dress rehearsal" for the final against Syria, but did not score. In the penalty shootout victory over Syria in the final after the match ended in a 1–1 draw, Chhetri was one of India's scorers. In a 5–2 loss at Bahrain in the 2011 Asian Cup, he displayed flashes of brilliance and scored his second goal. At the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, he scored a goal against South Korea.

He was named the national team captain of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifier in Malaysia. In a friendly match played at the Salt Lake Stadium, Chhetri scored in the 39th and 53rd minutes for India against Malaysia on November 16, 2011. India defeated India 3–2 in the match. He set a new record by scoring seven goals in a single edition of the SAFF Championship, beating I. M. Vijayan's record of six goals in the 97 edition on December 11, 2011 after scoring a goal in the SAFF Cup's final.

In the first match of the 2012 Nehru Cup, where India defeated the match 2–1, Chhetri scored a header with a header in the added time of the first half against Syria on August 22nd. He scored two goals against Maldives in their second match, one goal coming from penalty where the team beat the team 3–0. Chhetri scored from a well-taken penalty kick to equalize the score at 2–2. Chhetri was India's second kick-taker and scored in the ensuing penalty shootout, where India defeated 5–4.

Chhetri scored and assisted in a 4–1 home win over Macau in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, with this triumph qualifying them for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup after losing out in 2015. Chhetri led India to a 13-match unbeaten run before losing the final match to Kyrgyzstan. However, not only did India qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, but the team also managed to top their class. Ali Daei, Sun Jihai, and Phil Younghusband were among the top Asian players, including Ali Daei, who was one of four finalists selected for the seeds for the forthcoming Asian Cup.

Chhetri won 5–0 over Chinese Taipei in their first match of the 2018 Intercontinental Cup in June. Chhetri, on the other hand, was dissatisfied with the poor turnout at the stadium, and he posted a video on Twitter begging people to attend Mumbai Football Arena to support the Indian team. Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli's viral video went viral and gained a lot of followers, celebrities, and illustrious cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. The stadium was packed with a raucous crowd for the remainder of the games. Chhetri's 100th international appearance for India, as well as a two goals and a penalty spot in a 3–0 victory over Kenya, was used in the second game of the tournament, which was also Chhetri's 100th international appearance for the nation. Chhetri scored a goal in the upcoming match against New Zealand, but India lost by 2–1 after India qualified for the final. Chhetri won the Intercontinental Cup title on a 2–0 win over Kenya in the final on June 10 and equalled Argentina's Lionel Messi's tally of 64 international goalscorer, making him the joint second active international goalscorer at that time in front of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. He was voted the top scorer of the tournament with eight goals. India defeated Thailand 4–1 in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, thanks to Chhetri's brace against them on January 6th. Chhetri scored twice in a 2–0 victory over Bangladesh in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, on June 7th. He scored twice more in a 3–1 victory over Maldives in the 2021 SAFF Championship, making him the joint-sixth all-time international goalscorer in football, second only to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi scored again in a 3–0 victory over Nepal in the final of the 2021 SAFF Championship on October 16, 2021, equaling Messi's 80 international goals.

Sunil was unable to participate in international friendlies against Bahrain and Belarus, which were held in March 2022, due to some injuries following the 2021-2022 Indian Super League season. He made his appearance against Jordan in an international friendly match that was part of preparing for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, which was scheduled to be held in June 2022.

Chhetri played against Cambodia in 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, where he scored a brace from a penalty spot and a header from Brandon Fernandes, by which India defeated 2–0 in Salt Lake Stadium on June 8th. He scored from a freekick in the upcoming match against Afghanistan, taking his international goals total number to 83. In the match, India defeated India 2–1. In a 4–0 victory over Hong Kong in Chhetri's 84th goal, the two teams met in the next match. India qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup with Chettri being the top scorer in the third round of the qualifiers with four goals. Sunil is now the third highest international goalscorer still playing, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and the joint-fifth highest overall with Ferenc Puskás, with 84 goals to his list.

Career statistics

As of 15 October 2022

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