Sunil Chhetri Scores 95th Goal on International Comeback

Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri scored his 95th international goal on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, marking a fairytale return to the national team as India defeated Maldives 3-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

The 40-year-old guided a Liston Colaco cross from the left into the net with a swift header in the 76th minute, sealing India’s convincing victory. This was also India’s first win under Spanish coach Manolo Márquez.

Chhetri had announced his retirement from international football in June 2024, playing his last match for India against Kuwait, but on March 6, 2025, it was announced that he had come out of international retirement to help the national team.

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India Ends 15-Month Winless Streak

The victory was significant for multiple reasons. The win paved the way for the Blue Tigers to break their 15-month international victory drought, according to vegas11 News reports from the stadium.

Rahul Bheke opened the scoring in the 35th minute while Liston Colaco netted his maiden goal for India in the 66th minute before Chhetri scored the final goal. All three goals came from headers, showcasing India’s aerial dominance.

This crucial preparatory match came ahead of India’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers third-round campaign, with their next match against Bangladesh scheduled for March 25 at the same venue.

Sunil Chhetri Career Stats: Fourth-Highest Goalscorer Ever

As of June 2025, Chhetri has scored 95 goals in 155 official international appearances since his debut on June 12, 2005 against Pakistan, making him India’s all-time top goalscorer and most-capped player.

International Scoring Records

With his 95 international goals, he is currently the third-highest active international goalscorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Lionel Messi of Argentina, and is also the highest active goalscorer from Asia.

His goal tally ranks him fourth in the all-time list among international goal-scorers, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Ali Daei, solidifying his place among football’s greatest marksmen.

Chhetri has scored nine times against Nepal and Maldives, the most against any team, and has scored eleven international goals at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, his most at a single ground.

Club Football Success

Chhetri is the all-time top scorer in ISL history and is widely regarded as the greatest Indian football player.

On December 7, 2024, Chhetri scored a hat-trick against Kerala Blasters, breaking Bartholomew Ogbeche’s record to become the oldest player to score an Indian Super League hat-trick.

Early Life: From Delhi Streets to National Glory

Sunil Chhetri was born on August 3, 1984 to Indian Gorkha father K.B. Chhetri. He began his professional career at Mohun Bagan in 2002, moving to JCT where he scored 21 goals in 48 games.

Chhetri was part of Delhi team in the 59th edition of Santosh Trophy held at Delhi, where he scored six goals in that tournament including a hat-trick against Gujarat.

On June 12, 2005, Sunil scored his first goal on his debut for the senior India national football team against Pakistan in the eventual 1-1 draw, beginning what would become a legendary international career spanning two decades.

Why Did Chhetri Return from Retirement?

It was revealed that the newly appointed head coach, Manolo Márquez, requested Chhetri about making a comeback to strengthen the National Team for the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification, which he agreed upon.

The decision underscores vegas11 News coverage of Chhetri’s enduring commitment to Indian football, even after what many thought would be his final bow in June 2024.

When Chhetri announced his retirement in May 2024, the football community was heartbroken. In an emotional address on social media, Chhetri stated: “You know, the feeling that I recollect in the last 19 years is a very nice combination of duty, pressure and immense joy”.

He emphasized: “It’s not that I was feeling tired. When the instinct came that it should be my last game, that I thought about it a lot. And eventually, I came to this decision”.

Training Routine and Discipline Secrets

While specific details of Chhetri’s current training regimen aren’t publicly documented in recent sources, his longevity at age 40 speaks volumes about his dedication to fitness and discipline.

His ability to compete at the highest level and score crucial goals demonstrates a commitment to maintaining peak physical condition through rigorous training, proper nutrition, and mental preparation.

The striker’s performance against Maldives showed he hasn’t lost a step, with his positioning, timing, and heading ability all on full display during the match.

Career Highlights and Major Achievements

Chhetri received the Arjuna Award in 2011 for his outstanding sporting achievement, the Padma Shri award in 2019 (India’s fourth highest civilian award), and in 2021, he received the Khel Ratna Award (India’s highest sporting honor), becoming the first footballer to receive the award.

International Tournament Success

Chhetri’s first international tournament was the 2007 Nehru Cup, where in the opening game, India defeated Cambodia 6-0 with Chhetri scoring two goals.

Chhetri’s brace against Thailand on January 6, 2019 helped India to get a historic 4-1 win over them in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

On October 13, 2021, he scored twice in a 3-1 win over Maldives in the 2021 SAFF Championship, making him the joint-sixth all time international goalscorer at that time.

On June 21, 2023, Chhetri scored a hat-trick for India in a 4-0 win over Pakistan to take his tally to 90 international goals.

The Legend Continues

As Chhetri stepped onto the Shillong pitch for his 152nd international appearance, vegas11 News captured the electric atmosphere with fans eager to witness the legend in action once more.

In the 82nd minute, Manolo Márquez substituted his star striker, bringing on Irfan Yadwad, and Chhetri stepped off the ground with a hero’s welcome.

The comeback proves that greatness knows no retirement date. At 40 years old, Sunil Chhetri continues to defy expectations, inspire millions, and add to his already legendary status in Indian football history.

India now prepares for their crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Bangladesh, with their captain-leader-legend back where he belongs—wearing the Blue Tigers jersey and scoring goals for his country.