Sunil Chhetri Quick Facts
| Full Name | Sunil Chhetri |
| Profession | Professional footballer |
| Date of Birth | 3 August 1984 |
| Birthplace | Secunderabad (now in Telangana) |
| Height | 1.70 m |
| Position | Forward (striker) |
| Current Club | Bengaluru FC (contracted until the end of the 2026-27 season) |
| Shirt Number | 11 |
| India Caps / Goals | 157 / 95 (2005 to 2025) |
| International Status | Retired (final retirement confirmed November 2025) |
| Active Years | 2001 to present (club) |
| Spouse | Sonam Bhattacharya |
| Nationality | Indian |
Why Sunil Chhetri Matters
For close to two decades, Chhetri was the one Indian footballer whom casual sports fans could name. His goal tally places him among the highest scorers in men’s international football history, an extraordinary figure for a player from a country ranked well outside the global top 100. Just as important was what he represented off the pitch: a professional who looked after his body, spoke openly about the state of the domestic game and, in 2018, publicly asked fans to come to the stadium, a request that filled the stands for the Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai. His long stay at Bengaluru FC also helped prove that a well-run Indian club could build a loyal following around a homegrown star.
Sunil Chhetri International Record
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Debut | 12 June 2005 v Pakistan (scored on debut) |
| Caps / Goals | 157 / 95, both India records |
| First retirement | June 2024, after the World Cup qualifier against Kuwait in Kolkata |
| Comeback | March 2025, at the request of then head coach Manolo Márquez |
| Final match | 14 October 2025 v Singapore, AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier (lost 1-2) |
| AFC Challenge Cup | Winner 2008 |
| SAFF Championship | Winner 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023 |
| Nehru Cup | Winner 2007, 2009, 2012 |
| Intercontinental Cup | Winner 2018, 2023 |
Early Life and Family
Chhetri was born in Secunderabad on 3 August 1984. His father, K. B. Chhetri, was an officer in the Indian Army’s Corps of EME and played football for the Army team, while his mother, Sushila, played for the Nepal women’s national team. Growing up in a sporting household, he began his senior career with City Club in Delhi in 2001-02.
Breakthrough: The 2008 AFC Challenge Cup Hat-Trick
After joining Mohun Bagan in 2002 and moving to JCT in 2005, Chhetri scored on his international debut against Pakistan. His defining early moment came at the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, when his hat-trick against Tajikistan in the final gave India the title and a place at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, the country’s first appearance at the tournament in more than two decades.
Sunil Chhetri Club Career
| Years | Club |
|---|---|
| 2001 to 2002 | City Club Delhi |
| 2002 to 2005 | Mohun Bagan |
| 2005 to 2008 | JCT |
| 2008 to 2009 | East Bengal |
| 2009 to 2010 | Dempo |
| 2010 | Kansas City Wizards, USA (first Indian signed by an MLS club) |
| 2011 to 2012 | Chirag United, then Mohun Bagan |
| 2012 to 2013 | Sporting CP B, Portugal |
| 2013 to present | Bengaluru FC (apart from a 2015-16 spell with Mumbai City) |
At Bengaluru FC he won two I-League titles, the 2018-19 Indian Super League, the Super Cup and the 2022 Durand Cup, and helped the club reach the 2016 AFC Cup final. According to Khel Now, he had made 318 appearances and scored 134 goals for the club across competitions by July 2026.
Sunil Chhetri Records and Milestones
- India’s record goalscorer (95) and most capped player (157)
- Indian Super League’s all-time leading goalscorer
- Oldest player to score an ISL hat-trick, against Kerala Blasters in December 2024
- Record seven-time AIFF Player of the Year
- First footballer to receive the Khel Ratna, in 2021
Sunil Chhetri Awards and Honours
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Arjuna Award |
| 2019 | Padma Shri |
| 2021 | Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna |
| 2007 to 2022 (seven times) | AIFF Player of the Year |
| 2025 | Bhogeswar Baruah National Sports Award (lifetime achievement) |
Playing Style
Chhetri is not a tall target man, so his scoring has relied on movement and timing rather than physical presence. He reads the space between defenders early, attacks the near post, and finishes with either foot. For a player of his height, he is also unusually effective in the air because he times his jump well. As he moved into his late thirties, he adapted by dropping deeper less often and conserving energy for the penalty area, which is a large part of why he kept scoring into his forties.
Current Form (2025-26) and Outlook
Chhetri’s March 2025 comeback brought six more caps and one goal, but India failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, and he confirmed in November 2025 that he was ending his international career for good. At the time he indicated he might retire from club football after the 2025-26 season. Instead, in late July 2026, Bengaluru FC announced a one-year extension that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2026-27 season, by which point he will be 43. The club’s owner, Parth Jindal, marked the renewal by saying simply that Chhetri is BFC.
Sunil Chhetri Net Worth and Brand Value
Chhetri does not disclose his earnings. The figures below are media estimates drawn from his club salary, endorsements and other income, and should be treated as approximate rather than official.
| Estimated Net Worth | About ₹8 crore (approx. US$1 million), per myKhel and Zee News, 2024 |
| Brand Value | Not ranked by Kroll; endorsement fee reported at over ₹1 crore per deal, depending on length (Moneycontrol report cited by Social Samosa, 2024) |
| Key Brand Endorsements | Skechers, Duroflex, Acer India, ACwO, Herbalife |
| Main Income Sources | Bengaluru FC contract, brand endorsements, government awards |
Personal Life
Chhetri married Sonam Bhattacharya on 4 December 2017. She is the daughter of former Mohun Bagan and India defender Subrata Bhattacharya. The couple had a son in August 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sunil Chhetri
How many international goals did Sunil Chhetri score?
He scored 95 goals in 157 matches for India between 2005 and 2025, both national records.
Has Sunil Chhetri retired?
He has retired from international football, first in June 2024 and finally in November 2025 after a brief comeback. He still plays club football for Bengaluru FC.
Which club does Sunil Chhetri play for in 2026?
Bengaluru FC. In July 2026 he signed a one-year extension running until the end of the 2026-27 season.
What is Sunil Chhetri’s net worth?
It is not officially disclosed. Media outlets including myKhel and Zee News estimated it at about ₹8 crore (around US$1 million) in 2024.
