A Footballer Born In A Land Of Cricket - The Tragedy Of Being Sunil Chhetri

Sunil Chhetri is the name we associate with Indian football in recent times.

However, what is sad is the fact that a player of Chhetri's caliber will never really get his due in India. Make no mistake, the country does recognise his achievements but in a land where cricketers are hailed as Gods, ordinary mortals like footballers, unfortunately, take second place. The tragedy of being Chhetri is that he is a footballer born in a land of cricket.

PTI

Mind you, the young Chhetri wanted to be a cricketer too, but due to financial constraints turned to football. It proved to be the right choice. 92 goals in 142 games, that is quite a record at the international level.

There is no doubt of his class, but one can't help but feel how much more he could have achieved if he was from somewhere else.

AIFF

Well, let's not ponder on what might have been. Chhetri is our national treasure and it's time to treat him like one. The man only wants our support so let's give it to him.

His being a footballer in a cricket-crazy nation maybe a tragedy, but it can always have a happy ending if there's a change in the story. The spark has been lit, now it remains for the torch must be carried forward.

Yes, Chhetri has for over the last 18 years been India's shining star in the beautiful game. Belonging to a nation obsessed with cricket, Chhetri has been the driving force behind fans rallying for the national team. Ever since Bhaichung Bhutia hung up his boots in 2011, Chhetri has been the man leading from the front.

When it comes to scoring goals, Chhetri is an absolute beast in many ways. A machine when it comes to finding the back of the net, the 38-year-old has the ability to create chances out of nowhere. Blessed with nimble footwork, extreme speed and the amazing power in the thighs, Chhetri on his best day can be a nightmare for the opposition's defenders. Not to mention his cheeky dribbling skills that put him right up there with the world's best. If Chhetri had gotten better exposure by being born in a country where football is a major sport, given his skill, he would have no doubt been even better.

Statistics may not tell the whole story, but they do not lie either. When it comes to the all-time list of most goals in international men's football, this man is pretty high on the list. In fact, he is not far from the coveted milestone of 100 goals, something only 3 players have achieved till now. At the moment Chhetri is 4th on the overall list. When it comes to active players, Chhetri is in 3rd position. And guess which players take the top 2 spots? None other than Cristiano Ronaldo with 123 goals and Lionel Messi with 103 goals.