With his three goals, Chhetri now boasts an impressive tally of 90 goals, surpassing Malaysia's Mokhtar Dahari, who previously held the record with 89 goals. The only players ahead of Chhetri in the goal-scoring rankings are Lionel Messi of Argentina (103 goals), Ali Daei of Iran (109 goals), and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (123 goals).
Among active players, Chhetri holds an exceptional third position, with only Messi (103 goals) and Ronaldo (123 goals) surpassing him. This achievement underscores Chhetri's immense talent and his invaluable contributions to Indian football.
In a highly anticipated match against traditional rivals Pakistan, the Indian men's football team dominated their opponents, securing a convincing 4-0 victory at Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Chhetri led the charge by 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 Pakistan.
With this win, India sits at the top of Group A in the SAFF Championship, boasting a superior goal difference over Kuwait, who defeated Nepal 3-1 in the tournament opener. India entered the championship on the back of their title-winning campaign at the Intercontinental Cup 2023 and currently holds the 101st spot in the FIFA rankings.
From the start, India showcased their attacking prowess, scoring their first goal within the opening 10 minutes. A mistake by Pakistan goalkeeper Saqib Hanif allowed Chhetri to capitalize and give India the lead. India continued to dominate, putting pressure on Pakistan's defense, which resulted in a penalty for handling the ball in Pakistan's half. Chhetri confidently converted the penalty, extending India's lead to 2-0 at halftime.
In the second half, India maintained their advantage and pressed for more goals. Despite creating several scoring opportunities, the Indian strikers couldn't convert them. After a hard-fought battle where 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 securing a commanding 3-0 lead.
Shortly thereafter, India scored their fourth and final goal of the game. Anwar Ali's well-executed shot found an unmarked Udanta Singh, who calmly finished from close range, sealing the comprehensive 4-0 victory. With full control of the game, the Indian team maintained possession and successfully saw out the match.
India's next Group A match will be against Nepal on Saturday, as they aim to carry their winning momentum forward in the SAFF Championship.
