Sunil Chhetri’s Birthday: Legendary Indian striker Sunil Chhetri turned 39, today (3rd August). Chhetri is regarded as one of the best footballers ever to come out of India. Chhetri made his professional debut in 2002. He played for Mohun Bagan for City Club Delhi as a young player from 2001 to 2002. Sunil lasted with the team until 2005, participating in 18 games and scoring eight goals. He played for JCT from 2005 to 2008, East Bengal from 2008 to 2009. From 2009 to 2010, Chhetri played for Dempo. He also played for Chirag United from 2011 to 2012, Mohun Bagan from 2011 to 2012. Sunil played on loan for Churchill Brothers from 2013 to 2015. He is currently associated with Bengaluru from 2016.
Sunil also spent time abroad with the Sporting CP soccer team in Portugal (2012) and the Major League Soccer Kansas City Wizards (2010). These spells improved his technique and made him a more versatile striker. He has scored 56 goals in 134 club appearances throughout his two-decade career. From 2004 through 2007, Chhetri competed for India in the under-20 and under-23 age divisions. He scored a goal in his senior-level debut for India in June 2005 against bitter rival Pakistan.
Sunil Chhetri’s Birthday: A look at Sunil Chhetri’s Achievements
Chhetri is the fourth-highest scorer in the history of international football with 92 goals scored in 142 games for India. He trails only Lionel Messi of Argentina (103 goals in 175 games) and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal (123 goals in 200 games) among active players.
Chhetri has received numerous awards throughout his club career. He won the I League in 2009–10 with Dempo, and again in 2012–13 with Churchill Brothers.
Chhetri has primarily achieved success while playing for Bengaluru FC. These include the Indian Super League (2018–19), the I League (2013–14, 2015–16), the Federation Cup (2014–15, 2016–17), the Super Cup (2018), and the Durand Cup (2022).
His worldwide professional life is equally glitzy. With India, he won the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008. With victories in the SAFF Championship in 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023, he has also assisted India in becoming a dominant power in South Asian football.
Additionally, Chhetri led India to three Nehru Cup victories in 2007; 2009; and 2012. He was a member of two Indian Intercontinental Cup-winning teams in 2018 and 2023. Chhetri also led India to victory in the 2023 Tri-Nations Cup.
Chhetri has taken home the prestigious All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player of the Year award seven different times, in the 2007–11, 2013–14, 2017, 2018–19, and 2021–22 seasons. Additionally, in 2009, 2018, and 2019, he received the FPAI Indian Player of the Year award. Chhetri has also won two significant government-sponsored athletic awards: the 2011 Arjuna Award and the 2021 Khel Ratna Award, which is the nation’s top sporting prize.
This great Indian athlete is slated to compete for India at the Asian Games, which will take place in China from September 23 to October 8. Captain Chhetri will be under intense pressure to lead India to podium success and raise the tricolor to a new height at the continental level.
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