Sunil Chhetri facts for kids
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Chhetri in 2021
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sunil Chhetri | ||
| Date of birth | 3 August 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), India | ||
| Height | 1.70 m | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Bengaluru | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2002 | City Club Delhi | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2002–2005 | Mohun Bagan | 18 | (10) |
| 2005–2008 | JCT | 48 | (21) |
| 2008–2009 | East Bengal | 17 | (9) |
| 2009–2010 | Dempo | 13 | (8) |
| 2010 | Kansas City Wizards | 0 | (0) |
| 2011 | Chirag United | 7 | (7) |
| 2011–2012 | Mohun Bagan | 14 | (6) |
| 2012–2013 | Sporting CP B | 3 | (0) |
| 2013 | → Churchill Brothers (loan) | 8 | (4) |
| 2013–2015 | Bengaluru | 43 | (16) |
| 2015–2016 | Mumbai City | 17 | (7) |
| 2016 | → Bengaluru (loan) | 14 | (5) |
| 2016– | Bengaluru | 171 | (72) |
| National team | |||
| 2004 | India U20 | 3 | (2) |
| 2004–2005 | India U23 | 6 | (2) |
| 2005–2024 | India | 151 | (94) |
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Sunil Chhetri (born August 3, 1984) is a famous Indian professional footballer. He plays as a forward for Indian Super League club Bengaluru. He is the top scorer in Indian Super League history.
Sunil is known for his great skills, amazing goal-scoring, and strong leadership. He is the fourth-highest international goalscorer in the world. He is also the player with the most matches played and the all-time top goalscorer for the India national team. Many people think he is the greatest Indian football player ever.
Chhetri started his professional journey with Mohun Bagan in 2002. Later, he played for JCT and scored 21 goals in 48 games. He even played for an American team, Kansas City Wizards, in 2010. This made him one of the few Indian players to play football abroad.
Sunil has helped India win many important tournaments. These include the 2007, 2009, and 2012 Nehru Cup. He also led India to victory in the 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023 SAFF Championship. In 2008, he helped India win the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which allowed them to play in the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 27 years.
In 2016, Chhetri led Bengaluru FC to a silver medal in the AFC Cup. He has also won the AIFF Player of the Year award a record seven times. This shows how consistently good he has been.
Chhetri has received many awards for his achievements. He got the Arjuna Award in 2011 and the Padma Shri in 2019. In 2021, he received the Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sports honor. He was the first footballer to ever get this award. Sunil announced his retirement from international football in June 2024. His last match for India was against Kuwait.
His goal count places him fourth among all international goal-scorers. He is behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, Ali Daei, and Lionel Messi. FIFA, the world football body, even shared a picture of these top scorers on social media.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Early Days in Delhi
Sunil Chhetri began his football journey with City Club in Delhi in 2001. He played in the 2002 Durand Cup and even scored a goal. People noticed his talent, and soon he was invited for a trial with Mohun Bagan.
Playing for Mohun Bagan
Chhetri joined Mohun Bagan in 2002, starting his professional career. In his first season (2002–03), he scored four goals. He continued to play for Mohun Bagan for a few years, scoring important goals for the team.
Time at JCT
In 2005, Chhetri moved to JCT. He scored three goals in his first season with them. He also scored two hat-tricks for the Delhi in the Santosh Trophy. In the 2006–07 season, he scored twelve goals for JCT, helping them finish second in the league. He was named the AIFF Player of the Year in 2007 for his great performances.
Interest from Abroad
Sunil's talent caught the eye of clubs outside India. In 2008, there were rumors that teams like Leeds United in England and Estoril Praia in Portugal were interested in him. He even had a trial with Coventry City in England in 2009. However, a move to these clubs did not happen at that time.
Joining East Bengal
Before the 2008–09 season, Chhetri signed with East Bengal. He scored in his very first game for them. He also scored a crucial goal in the Federation Cup against his old club, JCT.
Playing for Dempo
In 2009, Chhetri signed a two-year contract with Dempo. His contract allowed him to try out for foreign clubs if he wished. There was interest from Celtic in Scotland and Queens Park Rangers in England. However, he was denied a work permit for England because India was not ranked high enough by FIFA. Sunil remained positive and continued to play well for Dempo.
Adventure in Kansas City
In March 2010, Sunil Chhetri went to the United States to play for the Kansas City Wizards in Major League Soccer. He became the first Indian to play in MLS. His coach praised him for being a "crafty player" with good attacking skills. He even played in a friendly match against the famous Manchester United. After this, he returned to India to play for the national team.
Back in India
After his time in the US, Chhetri played for Chirag United and then rejoined Mohun Bagan. He continued to score goals and show his skills in the Indian league.
Short Spell in Portugal
In 2012, Chhetri signed with Sporting CP in Portugal to play for their reserve team, Sporting CP B. He made his debut for the team in a league match. To get more playing time, he was loaned to Churchill Brothers in India in 2013. He helped Churchill Brothers win their second I-League title, scoring four goals in eight matches.
Leading Bengaluru FC
Starting Strong (2013–2015)
In 2013, Chhetri joined the new I-League team, Bengaluru. He quickly became a key player. He scored his first goal for the club in their second game. He had an amazing first season, scoring three braces (two goals in one match) in a row. With 14 goals and 7 assists, he led Bengaluru FC to win their first-ever I-League title in their very first season!
He continued his great form in the 2014–15 season. He scored six goals in the Federation Cup, helping Bengaluru win the trophy.
Time with Mumbai City (2015–2016)
Chhetri was picked by Mumbai City in the 2015 Indian Super League. He became the most expensive Indian player in the auction. He made history by scoring the first hat-trick by an Indian player in the Indian Super League. He was Mumbai City's top scorer that season with 7 goals.
Return to Bengaluru and Continued Success
Chhetri was loaned back to Bengaluru for the 2015–16 I-League season. He scored 5 goals, helping his team win the league title again. He also scored important goals in the 2016 AFC Cup, helping Bengaluru reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
In 2016, Bengaluru announced that Chhetri had signed a new contract, making him a permanent player again. He scored two goals in the 2016 AFC Cup semi-final, including a fantastic 30-yard shot, to lead Bengaluru to the final.
From 2017 onwards, Chhetri continued to be a star for Bengaluru FC. He scored 14 goals in the 2017–18 Indian Super League season and was named the "Hero of the League." In 2018, he won the Indian Super Cup with Bengaluru. He also led them to win the 2018–19 Indian Super League title.
He became the first player to make 200 appearances for Bengaluru FC in 2021. He also scored his 100th goal for the club. In 2022, he won the Durand Cup with the team. In December 2024, Chhetri scored a stunning hat-trick against Kerala Blasters FC, becoming the oldest player to achieve this in the Indian Super League.
International Career
Sunil Chhetri first played for the India U-20 team in 2004. He scored two goals in a 4–1 victory over Bhutan. On June 12, 2005, he scored his first goal for the senior India national football team in his debut match against Pakistan.
In 2019, Chhetri became the only Indian player to be in the top 10 international goalscorers list.
Early International Success (2007–2011)
Chhetri's first big international tournament was the 2007 Nehru Cup. He scored four goals in the tournament, helping India win the cup. He also scored important goals in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.
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In the 2008 SAFF Championship, he scored against Nepal and Bhutan. Later that year, in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, Chhetri scored four goals. He scored the only goal in the semi-final against Myanmar. In the final against Tajikistan, he scored a hat-trick! This amazing performance helped India win the Cup and qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup.
He continued to shine in the 2009 Nehru Cup, scoring a penalty against Kyrgyzstan. He also scored goals in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup against Bahrain and South Korea. In December 2011, he set a new record by scoring seven goals in one edition of the SAFF Championship.
Leading the Team (2012–2016)
In 2012, Chhetri was named the captain of the national team. In the 2012 Nehru Cup, he scored a header against Syria and two goals against Maldives. In the final against Cameroon, he scored a penalty to equalize the score. India won the match in a penalty shootout, with Chhetri scoring his kick.
Record-Breaking Years (2017–2021)
In 2017, Chhetri helped India qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup by scoring and assisting against Macau. He captained India during a 13-match unbeaten run. In June 2018, Chhetri scored a hat-trick against Chinese Taipei in the 2018 Intercontinental Cup. After this match, he made a video asking fans to come and support the team, which went viral. The stadium was packed for the next games!
In his 100th international match, he scored two goals against Kenya. He scored twice again in the final against Kenya, helping India win the Intercontinental Cup. This also made him equal to Lionel Messi with 64 international goals at that time. In 2019, his two goals against Thailand helped India win 4–1 in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. In 2021, he scored twice against Bangladesh and Maldives in the 2021 SAFF Championship. He then scored against Nepal in the final, equaling Messi's 80 international goals.
Final International Matches (2022–2024)
In June 2022, Chhetri scored two goals against Cambodia in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. He also scored against Afghanistan and Hong Kong, helping India qualify for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He was the top scorer in this qualification round with 4 goals.
In March 2023, Chhetri scored his 85th goal against Kyrgyzstan, passing Ferenc Puskás to become the fifth-highest international goal scorer. In June, he scored in the final of the 2023 Intercontinental Cup, helping India win. On June 21, 2023, he scored his 4th hat-trick for India against Pakistan in the 2023 SAFF Championship. His 90th international goal in this match made him the second-highest Asian goal scorer, behind only Ali Daei.
On May 16, 2024, Sunil Chhetri announced he would retire from international football. His last match was against Kuwait on June 6, which ended in a 0–0 draw.
Personal Life
Sunil Chhetri was born on August 3, 1984, in Secunderabad, India. His father, K. B. Chhetri, was a footballer for the Indian Army team. His mother and her twin sister played for the Nepal women's national team. Sunil grew up in Darjeeling and started playing football at a young age. He can speak five languages fluently: English, Hindi, Nepali, Bengali, and Kannada.
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In 2017, Chhetri married Sonam Bhattacharya, who is the daughter of a former Indian football player. In 2018, AFC (Asian Football Confederation) called him an 'Asian Icon'. In 2020, he signed a deal with the sports brand Puma.
In 2022, FIFA released a three-episode documentary called 'Captain Fantastic' about Sunil's life and career. On August 31, 2023, Sunil and his wife welcomed their son, Dhruv.
Honours
Dempo
- I-League: 2009–10
Churchill Brothers
- I-League: 2012–13
Bengaluru
- Indian Super League: 2018–19
- I-League: 2013–14, 2015–16
- Federation Cup: 2014–15, 2016–17
- Super Cup: 2018
- Durand Cup: 2022
- AFC Cup runner-up: 2016
India
- AFC Challenge Cup: 2008
- SAFF Championship: 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023; runner-up: 2008, 2013
- Nehru Cup: 2007, 2009, 2012
- Intercontinental Cup: 2018, 2023
- Tri-Nation Series: 2023
India U20
- South Asian Games silver medal: 2004
Individual Awards
- AIFF Player of the Year (7 times): 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018–19, 2021–22
- FPAI Indian Player of the Year (3 times): 2009, 2018, 2019
- SAFF Championship Player of the Tournament (4 times): 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023
- SAFF Championship Top Scorer (3 times): 2011, 2021, 2023
- Hero of the Intercontinental Cup: 2018
- Hero of the I-League: 2016–17
- I-League Golden Boot: 2013–14
- Hero of the Indian Super League: 2017–18
- 2018 Indian Super Cup: Golden Boot
- Football Ratna Award (first recipient) by Football Delhi: 2019
- The Times of India TOISA Best Footballer: 2021
Other Recognitions
- FIFA honored Chhetri with three documentary episodes about his life and career for being one of the top international goal scorers.
- AFC Asian Icon: 2018
- 2019 AFC Asian Cup: Favourite Player (voted by fans)
- AFC Cup All-time XI (The Strikers): Inducted in 2021
National Awards
- 2011 − Arjuna Award, for his great achievements in sports.
- 2019 −
Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award. - 2021 – Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honor.
Records
- First Indian player to have played in three different continents.
- Most appearances for India (150).
- Most international goals by an Indian (94).
- Most hat-tricks for India (4).
- Most goals for India in AFC Competitions (19).
- All-time top goal scorer in SAFF Championship (23).
- Most matches played by an Indian in AFC Cup (40).
- Most goals scored by an Indian in AFC Cup (19).
- Most goals by an Indian in first tier Indian football leagues (147).
- First Indian player to score a hat-trick in Indian Super League.
- Most hat-tricks by an Indian in Indian Super League (2).
- Top Indian goal scorer in Indian Super League (60).
- Top Indian goal scorer in I-League (94).
- All-time top goal scorer in the Super Cup (9).
- Most matches played for Bengaluru (276).
- Most goals scored for Bengaluru (122).
- First footballer to receive Khel Ratna Award.
- AIFF Player of the Year for a record seven times.
Images for kids
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Chhetri in 2008
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See also
In Spanish: Sunil Chhetri para niños
- List of top international men's football goal scorers by country
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
- List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals
- List of India national football team hat-tricks
- List of India national football team captains
- List of Indian football first tier top scorers
- List of India international footballers
- List of Indian expatriate footballers
- FPAI Indian Player of the Year
- AIFF Player of the Year
