Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri finished his international career, playing his final game against Kuwait in Kolkata on Thursday.

Chhetri, 39, ended his career as the fourth-highest goal scorer in international football behind legendary footballers, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ali Daei

The Indian captain trails FIFA World Cup winner Messi, who has scored 106 in 180 matches, and Ronaldo tops the list, having scored 128 goals from 206 appearances for Portugal.

Iran’s Daei is second in the list with 108 goals for his country.

HIGHEST GOALSCORERS OF ALL TIME IN INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Position Player Country Goals Apperances
1 Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal 128 206
2 Ali Daei Iran 108 148
3 Lionel Messi Argentina 106 180
4 Sunil Chhetri India 93 143
5 Mokhtar Dahari Malaysia 89 142

Chhetri made his senior debut for India against Pakistan in 2005 and has featured on the scoresheets ever since. He has won the Nehru Cup three times (2007, 2009, 2012) and the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship four times (2011, 2015, 2021, 2023). For his services, he was also awarded the Arjuna Award in 2011 and the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.

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