Chhetri made his senior India debut against Pakistan on 12 June 2005 in Quetta. He also scored his maiden goal in the fixture.
Then 24-year-old Chhetri helped India to win the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup for the first time. He was the top-scorer for the nation (four goals), including a hat-trick in the final of the tournament against Tajikistan.
Chhetri contributed to India’s victorious 2011 SAFF Championship campaign with his seven goals.
Chhetri topped the goal-scorer’s chart with four goals to his name aiding India win the 2012 Nehru Cup.
As a captain, Chhetri led India to the 2015 SAFF Championship triumph scoring joint- most goals for the country (3).
In the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, Chhetri was the best player of the tournament as the Indian forward scored eight goals (most in the tournament).
In 2023, he led India to its ninth SAFF title while being the most valuable player of the tournament for his five goals, including a hat-trick versus Pakistan.
Chhetri is the world’s fourth-highest goal-scorer with 94 international goals.
Chhetri is India’s most capped football player with 150 appearances.
Sunil Chhetri is the first footballer to receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
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