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#3 Lionel Messi | 71
An all-time great at club level, but routinely derided as a national team player, Lionel Messi has had an interesting, and often tumultuous, relationship with La Albiceleste. But as his goal-return proves, Messi has not done too badly for his national team and lies third on this list.
The loss of three finals on the international stage, including the 2014 World Cup, drained the Barca talisman, but he again played a stellar role to rescue the team and take them to the next World Cup. Messi, who won an Olympic gold in 2008, continues his quest for a major title with the senior national team at 33.
He remains their best player (and one of the best in the world!) in the current World Cup qualifying campaign.
#2 Sunil Chhetri | 72
Over the years, 36-year-old Sunil Chhetri has truly become Indian football's ambassador to the world. Chhetri's goal-scoring exploits on the international stage have reached epical status and made him a known name around the world.
The Bengaluru FC forward has also won three Nehru Cups and two SAFF Championships for the Blue Tigers and still has some football up his sleeve in which he will continue to bring a smile to his fans' faces with his beautiful touches and finishing.
Chhetri has scored one less than Messi, but taken 112 games to Messi's 140 to reach the mark.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo | 101
With Portugal claiming both the European Championships and the UEFA Nations League, Cristiano Ronaldo has got rid of the albatross around his neck and gone one up on great rival Messi by winning international honors.
His goal-scoring exploits show no stopping for both club and country and the maestro recently brought up a century of goals for Portugal with a brace in the UEFA Nations League. Ronaldo, at 35, seems unstoppable; his physical prowess and technical virtuosity is also showing little signs of diminishing and sooner rather than later, he will go past Daei's record.
Will that add to the clamor to name him the best ever? Or will people still vouch for Messi's dexterity, Pele's brilliance or Maradona's magic? One gets the feeling that that is a debate that will never come to a conclusion.
