Indian Football Team Captain Sunil Chhetri Becomes 4th Highest International Goal-Scorer, Moves Close to Messi

BENGALURU: Sunil Chhetri became the fourth-highest goal scorer in men's football history on Wednesday when he scored a hat-trick against Pakistan in their SAFF Championship opening at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Chhetri is now the fourth-highest international goal-scorer, after only Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Ali Daei of Iran, and Lionel Messi of Argentina. Chhetri is now ranked third among active goal scorers.

Chhetri's goal tally now stands at 90 in 138 games, surpassing Malaysia's Mokhtar Dahari, who had 89 in four more games. Chhetri eclipsed Malaysian football legend Mokhtar Dahari's 89-goal record to become the world's fourth-leading striker.

Chhetri, 38, is currently the third-highest goalscorer in international football among active cricketers, trailing only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina's Lionel Messi. Ronaldo is now playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Professional League and has 123 international goals to his name, including five in the ongoing UEFA Euro Qualifiers 2024.

Ronaldo became the first footballer in history to make 200 international appearances the day before Chhetri's hat-trick. Ronaldo has been in excellent form for both club and country, and he is expected to add many more goals to his tally in the future. Chhetri is unlikely to match Ronaldo's international goals total, as breaking the current 33-goal differential is an unattainable aim at the age of 38.

However, Chhetri has a chance to move up to third place, which is now held by Argentina's Lionel Messi. The former Barcelona and PSG legend has 103 international goals in 175 outings and recently won the FIFA World Cup 2022. Given Chhetri's current form and India's future games at the SAFF Cup 2023 and the Asia Cup the following year, Chhetri is likely to beat Messi or close the gap in the goalscoring table.

Chhetri, 21, scored his first international goal against Pakistan in a friendly match on June 12, 2005. A little more than 18 years later, Chhetri's life came full circle when he scored a hat-trick in India's 4-0 win over Pakistan on Wednesday, bringing his international goal count to 90.

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