The fantastic Indian captain Sunil Chhetri during his brace against Bangladesh in the FIFA World Cup qualifier vs Bangladesh crossed Argentinian Lionel Messi to become the second highest active international scorer with 74 goals. Only Cristiano Ronaldo with 103 international goals is ahead of him.
The 36-year-old at the start of the game, which also served as a qualifier for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, was tied on 72 goals with the Argentinian maestro. Messi scored his 72nd goal last week when he was converted on the spot against Chile in their 1-1 draw in the World Cup qualifiers. Chhetri passed Messi when he returned home after Ashique Kuruniyan passed in the 79th minute against Bangladesh.
With 73 goals, he was tied with Ali Mabkhout of the United Arab Emirates who recently scored against Malaysia last week. The Indian team captain passed Mabkhout to become the second-highest active international scorer right after death when he received a pass from Suresh Singh and placed him comfortably in the back of the net.
Chhetri is also now tied with legendary Indian striker IM Vijayan with four goals scored in India’s winning causes in the World Cup qualifiers.
AIFF President Praful Patel also congratulated Sunil Chhetri for achieving this feat. He took to Twitter and wrote: “ Our Indian football Skipper Sunil Chhetri adds another feather to his illustrious cap by overtaking Lionel Messi to become the second highest active international scorer with 74 goals. Well done to Captain Fantastic and I wish him many more accolades in the future. “
Our @IndianFootball Skipper Sunil Chhetri adds another feather to his illustrious cap by overtaking Lionel Messi to become the second highest active international scorer with 74 goals. Hats off to Captain Fantastic and I wish him many more accolades in the future. pic.twitter.com/kzpgCQbXEp– Praful Patel (@praful_patel) June 7, 2021
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The next stop for India is Afghanistan a week from today. India would need a win to finish third in Group E, which would secure them a place in the 2023 Asian Cup.
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