Editor
With his three goals, Chhetri has now reached a remarkable total of 90 goals, surpassing Malaysia's Mokhtar Dahari, who had previously held the record with 89 goals. The only players ahead of Chhetri in the goal-scoring hierarchy are Argentine legend Lionel Messi (103 goals), retired Iranian player Ali Daei (109 goals), and the legendary Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo (123 goals).
Among active players, Chhetri holds an impressive third position, with only Messi (103 goals) and Ronaldo (123 goals) surpassing him. This achievement further highlights Chhetri's immense talent and his contribution to Indian football.
In the highly anticipated match against arch-rivals Pakistan, the Indian men's football team dominated their opponents, securing a convincing 4-0 victory at Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Sunil Chhetri led the charge, finding the back of the net three times (in the 10th, 16th, and 73rd minutes), while Udanta Singh Kumam added the final goal in the 81st minute. This triumph marked India's seventh consecutive clean sheet against their traditional adversaries.
With this win, India sits atop the Group A points table in the SAFF Championship, boasting a superior goal difference compared to Kuwait, who defeated Nepal 3-1 earlier in the tournament opener. India entered the championship on the back of their title-winning campaign at the Intercontinental Cup 2023 and is currently ranked 101st in the FIFA rankings.
From the onset, India exhibited their attacking prowess against Pakistan, scoring their first goal within the first 10 minutes of the game. Pakistan goalkeeper Saqib Hanif's error in clearing the ball allowed Chhetri to capitalize and put India in the lead. India continued to dominate, pressuring Pakistan's defense, which eventually led to a penalty for handling the ball in their own half. Chhetri confidently converted the penalty, extending India's lead to 2-0 at halftime.
The second half witnessed India maintaining their advantage and pressing for further goals. Although they created several scoring opportunities, the Indian strikers couldn't convert them into goals. After a hard-fought battle during which Pakistan came close to scoring, India was awarded another penalty. Chhetri stepped up once again and skillfully placed the ball in the top left corner, completing his hat-trick and taking India's lead to an unassailable 3-0.
Minutes later, India scored their fourth and final goal of the game. Anwar Ali's well-placed shot found an unmarked Udanta Singh, who calmly finished from close range, sealing the comprehensive 4-0 victory. With the game firmly in their control, the Indian team maintained possession and saw out the match.
India's next match in Group A will be against Nepal on Saturday, where they will aim to continue their winning momentum in the SAFF Championship.