It was a moment of immense pride for Indians yesterday when the Indian Football Team lifted the Intercontinental Cup, but something sweetened the deal just a little extra. It was Sunil Chhetri’s match-winning brace that brought him on-par with one of the best in the world.
Sunil Chhetri and Leo Messi now share the record for being the second-highest goalscorers among active International football players in the world, and I don’t know about you but I’m about to look like I had an intense chest workout for the entire week!
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The Bannerman of Indian football who managed to inspire millions of Indians to get behind the Men In Blue, selling out stadiums and making a billion people take notice, Sunil Chhetri scored eight goals at the Intercontinental Cup tournament, taking his tally to 64 goals, and wait it gets better.
Sunil Chhetri and Leo Messi may be the joint second-highest goalscorers among active footballers in international matches, but our very own captain may have bettered Messi internationally. Slightly, but he may have.
Sunil Chhetri equalled Messi’s record in 102 official matches, whereas Messi did it in 124 matches and that is A HUGE DEAL!
In an elite company, Sunil Chhetri is internationally rubbing shoulders with the best of the best, two of the most gifted and perhaps best ever athletes to have ever played the game. Unfurling the Indian flag all over the world, 33-year old Sunil Chhetri may have ignited a fire that is just beginning to burn brighter.
The Indian psyche, although pre-programmed to follow nothing but Cricket, is slowly learning to throw their weight behind other Indian sports, and while European football has continued to mesmerize Indian football fans, our very national football team is now gaining the support it always deserved.
Twitter users can’t stop expressing their joy over witnessing this awe-inspiring sight when an Indian player has worked hard to make our motherland proud. Read what Twitter had to say about Sunil Chhetri and Leo Messi sharing the honour of being joint second-highest scorers in world football.
India's Sunil Chhetri joins the most elite company ?? pic.twitter.com/HdAVaQIokA
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 10, 2018
One & Only Sunil Chhetri.#INDvKEN pic.twitter.com/zrdLeh7SGC
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) June 10, 2018
Not only in India, Sunil Chhetri has made the world take notice of his talent and dedication which have made this proud day possible not just for him, but for every single Indian all over the world.
Top Scorers (International Football)
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) June 10, 2018
1) Cristiano Ronaldo 81 (150 Games)
2) Sunil Chhetri 64 (102 Games)
3) Lionel Messi 64 (124 Games)
Goals Per Game:
1) #SunilChhetri 0.63
2) #Ronaldo 0.54
3) #Messi 0.52#INDvKEN #IntercontinentalCupFinal #IntercontinentalCup pic.twitter.com/u7uQDFrNfS
1) Cristiano Ronaldo (150 games)
— SK Indian Football (@SK_IndFootball) June 10, 2018
2) Sunil Chhetri (102 games)
3) Lionel Messi (124 games)
Your move, Leo. pic.twitter.com/G3TnIKEDCU
Sunil Chhetri has equalled Lionel Messi with 64 international goals. Chhetri has a better goal per game ratio than Messi and is now joint 2nd highest active international football goal scorer.
— Jagrati Shukla (@JagratiShukla29) June 10, 2018
India is proud of you @chetrisunil11#JaiHind ??#chhetri100 #sunilchhetri #INDvKEN
Congratulations to @chetrisunil11 on becoming the second-highest goal scorer in the world, equaling Leo Messi’s record#backtheblue pic.twitter.com/UdjhUdkxYF
— BuzzFeed India (@BuzzFeedIndia) June 10, 2018
PROUD OF YOU #SUNIL!!
— Doordarshan National (@DDNational) June 10, 2018
Highest active international goalscorers' list:
1. Ronaldo ?? - 81
2. Chhetri?? - 64
2. Messi?? - 64
4. Villa?? - 59
5. Dempsey?? - 57#SunilChhetri goes 2nd on this prestigious list.#IndianFootball #INDvKEN pic.twitter.com/yM5zWFvwXM
Sunil Chhetri makes it 2-0. On a hat-trick. He equals Messi’s record of 64 international goals, second only to Ronaldo’s among those currently playing. Against a different breed of opponents, of course. Still, what a feat. #INDvKEN #IntercontinentalCup2018 ?? ?? ??
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) June 10, 2018
Highest active international goalscorers' list:
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) June 10, 2018
1. Ronaldo ?? - 81
2. Chhetri?? - 64
2. Messi?? - 64
4. Villa?? - 59
5. Dempsey?? - 57
Sunil Chhetri goes 2nd on this prestigious list.#IndianFootball #INDvKEN
Read: https://t.co/El8q31T8DA pic.twitter.com/zxQCXgtOZu
Top 3 Active International Goalscorers:
— Babaji Ka Thullu (@BabajiKaThullu4) June 10, 2018
1. Cristiano Ronaldo - 81 goals
2. Sunil Chhetri - 64 goals
3. Leo Messi - 64 goals
Indian Media Might Ignore Him. But We Won't.
Retweet Proudly ?? pic.twitter.com/XDTc9GzNSF
Top3 Active International Goal Scorers At Present ⚽?
— DHONIsm™ ? (@DHONIism) June 10, 2018
1)??Cristiano Ronaldo - 81
From 149 Matches
Goal Per Match - 0.54
2)??SUNIL CHHETRI - 64 ?
From 102 Matches ?
Goal Per Match - 0.61 ?
3)??Lionel Messi - 64
From 124 Matches
Goal Per Match - 0.52#Chhetri ?? pic.twitter.com/mXJav1MaGW