Sunil Chhetri - A Diamond In Indian Football Who Is Second To None

Sunil Chhetri is a footballer considered to be the greatest football player India has ever produced. He is the highest goalscorer on the international level for the Indian national team.

Sunil Chhetri plays as a forward and has been leading the line for India over the last 16 years. He is a an accomplished star and has amassed 74 international goals.

Who is Sunil Chhetri?

Born in Secunderabad, Sunil Chhetri took interest in football at a very young age. His heroics on the football field and goal-scoring prowess has made him one of the best forwards in international football. His accomplishments have made him one of India's most revered sports stars.

Early Life

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Arguably India's greatest football player Sunil Chhetri was born in on 3 August, 1984, in Secunderabad, Telangana.

Sunil Chhetri father, K. B. Chhetri, an officer in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers of the Indian Army. His father played football for the Indian Army's team, while his mother and her twin sisters played for the Nepal women's national team. The football quite clearly is in the family and it runs in everyone's blood.

His interest in the game began to develop at an early age, and he started participating in various football tournaments.

Early Career

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Sunil Chhetri began his career with City FC of New Delhi, a small club in the capital. After showing early promise and impressing with his raw talent, West Bengal giants Mohun Bagan took him under their wings in 2002. In his first year with club, he only scored four goals, but showed plenty of flashes of his unlimited potential. The following season saw Chhetri score only two goals as he struggled for form.

In 2005, he made the move to Jagatjit Cotton & Textile Football Club (JTC F.C). During that season, Chhetri scored three goals. He scored twice against Salgaocar before the third came against Sporting Goa, as JCT finished the season in sixth place. But it was in Santosh Trophy where Chhetri sizzled as he scored twin hat-tricks for Delhi in the group stages against both Orissa and Railways.

In the same year, Sunil Chhetri made his bow for India on the international stage.

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Then, during the 2006¨C07 season, Chhetri scored a total of eleven goals in the league for JCT as the club finished in second place, behind Dempo. Among his best games during that season were the matches against his former club Mohun Bagan and Dempo in which he scored braces in both matches as JCT won both games 2¨C0 and 3¨C2 respectively.

In the following seasons, Chhetri had stints with East Bengal, Dempo, Chirag United. He was not prolific in front of the goal in the I-League, but was scoring at will for the Indian football team.

Move To Sporting Portugal and Present

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In 2012, after been one of the best players in Asia, Portuguese top league club Sporting Portugal signed him to a two year contract, and Chhetri was sent straight into their reserve team. He struggled for game time though and was loaned to I-League side Churchill Brothers.

In 2013, he signed for Bengaluru FC following his release from Sporting Lisbon, for the 2013¨C14 season. He was brilliant in his first season scoring goals and also contributing by setting them up. With 14 goals and 7 assist in 23 appearances in the season, Chhetri led Bengaluru FC to their first ever I-League title in its debut season. He continues to play for the club, and has been very impressive for the side.

Chhetri was picked up by Mumbai City during the 2015 Indian Super League for Rs. 1.2 crores, making him the most expensive Indian player at the auctions. He scored seven goals for the franchisee in the season.

In 2016, he signed a one year contract with Bengaluru FC. Chhetri scored twice as Bengaluru won the 2016 AFC Cup Semi Final tie by beating Johor Darul Ta'zim in Bengaluru. Chhetri's second goal was a 30-yard strike, where he received the ball from C.K. Vineeth, beat one defender and unleashed a screamer to give Bengaluru the lead.

The following season, he scored 14 goals for the club and also won the 'Hero of the League' award for his goal scoring exploits.

At the international level, Sunil Chhetri has been more prolific and absolutely in blistering form. In 118 games so far for India, he has scored astonishing 74 goals. An absolute insane record considering only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have more goals among the active players.

Sunil Chhetri is now 37, but he continuous to get better with age.