Chhetri overtakes Messi to become second-highest international goalscorer among active players

Sunil Chhetri scored 69th international goal with a clever panenka to put India in the lead in its Interncontinental Cup tie against Tajikistan.

Sunil Chhetri celebrates after scoring a penalty to give India an early lead against Tajikistan in the Intercontinental Cup.

India football team captain Sunil Chhetri, for the second time this year, overtook Lionel Messi to become the second-highest international goalscorer among active players when he scored a fourth-minute penalty against Tajikistan in the Intercontinental Cup on Sunday.

The skipper scored his 69th international goal with a clever panenka to go second on the list, only below Cristiano Ronaldo who has 88 international goals for Portugal.

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Chhetri, who recently became India's most-capped international , further consolidated his position when he doubled India's lead with a sublime finish in the first half.

Messi was at the centre of controversy during Argentina's Copa America third-place playoff match against Chile when he was sent off for an altercation with defender Gary Medel . Chhetri is likely to stay second for a while as Argentina is scheduled to play next only in September in a friendly against Mexico.