Sunil Chhetri surpassed the Lionel Messi as the second highest scorer in international football after scoring twice against Bangladesh on Monday evening at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, to ensure a 2-0 win for India in a 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup joint qualifiers.
The 36-year-old Chhetri achieved his 74th strike, whereas Messi has 72 international goals in 143 appearances for Argentina. The skipper said he will get down to counting his goals probably 10 years down the line. “I do not count the number of goals. 10 years later, we will sit together, have a chat and then count,” he said.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored the most international goals (103) amongst active international goalscorers.
The most number of goals, the forward has scored against are Chinese Taipei and Maldives (six goals each). His best conversion rate is against Vietnam as he scored a hat-trick in the only game he played against them.
The toughest opponent the Indian striker has scored a goal against is Asian giants South Korea against whom he had scored in the Asian Cup 2011 in Doha. Chhetri’s goal had put the Blue Tigers in front but South Korea eventually won 4-1.
The India captain is just a goal away from entering world football’s all-time top-10. India next face Afghanistan on June 15 at the same venue as they hope to finish third in Group E which would guarantee them a berth in the 2023 Asian Cup.
Chhetri will be hoping to add to his goal tally and help India finish third on the 2022 World Cup qualifying table.
