Sunil Chhetri

Sunil was part of Delhi team in the 59th edition of Santosh Trophy held at Delhi.

He scored six goals in that tournament including a hat-trick against Gujarat.

Delhi lost to Kerala in the quarter-finals and he scored in that match too.

Meanwhile, in the Santosh Trophy, Chhetri scored two hat-tricks for Delhi in the group stages of the 61st Santosh Trophy against both Orissa and Railways.

However, despite Chhetri's best efforts, Delhi were eliminated in the pre-quarter final round after losing 1–0 to Tamil Nadu in extra time.

Sunil Chhetri (born 3 August 1984) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains both Indian Super League club Bengaluru FC and the India national team.

He is known for his link-up play, goal scoring abilities, and leadership.

He is the third-highest international goalscorer among active players (fourth overall), behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, fourth overall, and is also the most-capped player and the all-time top goalscorer of the India national team.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian footballers of all time for his contributions for the country.

Sunil Chhetri started his career with City Club, a local club based in Delhi and joined them during the 2001-02 season.

Chhetri began his professional career at Mohun Bagan in 2002, moving to JCT where he scored 21 goals in 48 games.

He represented the club in 2002 Durand Cup where although his team failed to qualify for quarterfinal stage but Chhetri made an appearance in four games and scored a goal.

He was spotted by Mohun Bagan during the tournament who called him to Kolkata for a trial and he went for trial just after joining City Club two months ago.

Chhetri began his professional football journey with Mohun Bagan of the National Football League where he signed his first professional contract after a week trial.

After his first season with the club, the 2002–03 season, Chhetri had scored four goals as Mohun Bagan finished in seventh place in the table.

The next season, Chhetri scored only two goals.

The first came against Sporting Goa while the second came against Indian Bank as Mohun Bagan once again finished in the bottom half of the table, in ninth place.

In 2004–05 season, He scored a hattrick against Tollygunge Agragami where he came as a substitute in a 4-0 win.

; this time Mohun Bagan finished eighth in the league and remained in the National Football League on goal difference.

In 2005, Chhetri signed for JCT for the 2005–06 season.

During that season, Chhetri scored three goals.

He scored twice against Salgaocar before the third came against Sporting Goa, as JCT finished the season that year in sixth place.

Then, during the 2006–07 season, Chhetri scored a total of twelve goals in the league for JCT as the club finished in second place, behind Dempo.

Among his best games during that season were the matches against his former club Mohun Bagan and Dempo in which he scored braces in both matches as JCT won both games 2–0 and 3–2 respectively.

Chhetri helped India win the 2007, 2009, and 2012 Nehru Cup, as well as the 2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023 SAFF Championship.

Chhetri has also been named AIFF Player of the Year a record seven times in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018–19 and 2021–22.

He made his I-League debut on 26 November 2007 in an upset 2-1 victory over his former club Mohun Bagan.

Then, during the very first season of the I-League, Chhetri scored seven goals as JCT finished the season in third place.

His only brace that season came against Salgaocar during the final match of the season.

Midway through that season though, in December 2007, Chhetri was awarded the AIFF Player of the Year award for 2007 for his excellent form and performances for his club and country.

He also led India to victory in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which qualified them to their first AFC Asian Cup in 27 years, scoring twice in the final tournament in 2011.

In October 2008, it was rumored that Chhetri had sparked interest from foreign clubs.

These clubs were Leeds United of the Football League One and Estoril Praia of the Liga de Honra, the second division of Portugal.

During an interview Chhetri said that "Nothing has been confirmed as yet but yes, I think I am close to getting there."

indicating that there was a chance of him signing in England.

He signed for Major League Soccer side Kansas City Wizards in 2010, becoming the third player from the subcontinent of note to go abroad.

He returned to India's I-League where he played for Chirag United and Mohun Bagan before going back abroad, at Sporting CP of the Primeira Liga, where he played for the club's reserve side.

Chhetri received the Arjuna Award in 2011 for his outstanding sporting achievement, the Padma Shri award in 2019, India's fourth highest civilian award.

In 2021, he received the Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honor and became the first footballer to receive the award.

In 2016 Chethri led Bengaluru FC to a silver medal finish in the AFC Cup.