3 Reasons why Sunil Chhetri is India's GOAT despite bowing out of the AFC Asian Cup

#2 Most Number of Goals for India

There are very few players who have scored as much as Sunil Chhetri has scored for India throughout the world.

Currently, the striker is the second highest active scorer in the world with 67 goals for his nation.

Thirteen years ago, he opened his scoring for India by finding the back of the net against Pakistan in a friendly. During his debut appearance in the Nehru Cup, he scored twice against Cambodia to win the game comprehensively as the scoreline read 6-0.

He scored in the SAFF Champions League semi-finals against Bhutan but fell short to the Maldives in the final game to end up as runners-up.

With a hattrick in the finals in the AFC Challengers Cup and lifting the accolade, it enabled India to take part in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

To go down as the top scorer for one's nation would have been a child's dream. His hard work and perseverance have taken him to this level.

About the author

Sudarshan has been covering European and Indian football for Sportskeeda for
around 9 years. An Information Technology graduate and a post-graduate in International Business Operations, he has previously worked with Chennai Super Kings, Chennai City FC and the SunRisers Hyderabad handling their social media for OPN Advertising and Ting Labs. He has also travelled with the SunRisers for around 2 years, shooting content and interviewing stars such as David Warner, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Jonny Bairstow.

An ardent Liverpool supporter since 2008, Sudarshan's favorite footballer is Steven Gerrard, who impressed with his unmatched leadership during the Reds' challenging periods. His favorite manager is Jurgen Klopp as the German's connection with fans and preference for high-intensity football resonates with him. Sudarshan aims to better analyze football matches by relying on websites like FotMob and DataMB and excels in swiftly covering breaking news events.

Mario Gotze's winner in the 2014 final is Sudarshan’s favorite FIFA World Cup moment, and believes that Jamal Musiala and Jude Bellingham could emerge as the successors to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. When not writing, he enjoys binge-watching movies, learning new skills to enhance his professional development, and participating in marathons.

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Edited by Alan John