#1 Sunil Chhetri
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The baton-bearer from IM Vijayan and Baichung, Sunil Chhetri is the most celebrated and successful Indian footballer of all time. Chhetri started his professional career at Mohun Bagan in 2002-03.
Chhetri also played for East Bengal and Dempo and was linked to a number of foreign clubs, including Leeds United, DC United and Queen Park Rangers. In the 2007 Nehru Cup, Chhetri scored four and created a few goals in India’s victorious campaign. India won the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup owing to Chhetri’s hat-trick in the final against Tajikistan.
Chhetri led the National Team in the 2012 Nehru Cup, scoring three crucial goals and won the trophy for the Blue Tigers. Chhetri has scored 50 goals in just 90 appearances for the Blues. Playing anywhere in the attacking third, Chhetri has always been a goal-scoring threat throughout the world. With a knack of scoring important and impossible goals, Chhetri has bailed the National team out of danger on a number of times.
Chhetri signed for MLS club Kansas City Wizards in 2010, becoming the 3rd Indian to play outside South Asia and the 1st to ply his trade in the US. Chhetri played a friendly against Manchester United, becoming the second Indian player to do so.
In 2012, Chhetri signed for Portuguese side Sporting Clube De Portugal to play with its reserve team. The striker plays for the Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League and Bengaluru FC in the I-League. He is the first Indian player to score a hat-trick in ISL.
Accolades
Chhetri has been the AIFF Footballer of the Year in 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2014. He has also won the AFC Challenge Cup Most Valuable Player in 2008. Chhetri has been the top-scorer at various International tournaments, like the Nehru Cup and the SAFF Championship, both in 2011.
He was also awarded the SAFF Championship Player of the Tournament in 2011.
