India defeated Kuwait in the final of the SAFF Championship 2023 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru. Al Khaldi scored the goal in the 14th minute to give Kuwait an early lead but Chhangte equalised in the 38th minute for India. The match ended with a 1-1 scoreline and even extra time couldn't change that. India and Kuwait went to decide their fate via penalties where Gurpreet saved the sudden death shot of Kuwait's skipper to win it for India.

Read Also: 6 stats of the SAFF Championship that you must know

India vs Kuwait | 6:18 P.M. | Indian fans are singing Maa Tujhe Salaam

It's almost time for the #SAFFChampionship2023 Final as @IndianFootball take on #Kuwait in #Bengaluru! ⚔️

Watch #KUWIND LIVE only on @ddsportschannel & @FanCode! 📺#BlueTigers #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #India pic.twitter.com/pWwJ94eVHN

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) July 4, 2023

India vs Kuwait | Head to Head | 6:40 P.M.

Both teams played each other twice in football competitions. The head-to-head stands in favour of Kuwait who won one match back in 2010, while the other match, in the SAFF Championship 2023 ended in a draw.

It's buzzing near the West Block's entrance of the Kanteerava 🤩✨

🇰🇼 #KUWIND 🇮🇳 Match kicks off at 7:30 PM IST. Live on DD Sports and Fancode App. pic.twitter.com/UfL5WUaGHi

— IFTWC - Indian Football (@IFTWC) July 4, 2023

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 6:57 P.M.

Stimac can do nothing more than sit in the VIP seats and watch today. But before that, he could be seen hugging each of the Indian players as they made their way out of the bus and into the stadium complex.

The #BlueTigers 🐯 are in the stadium 🏟️ and intend on leaving with the silverware 🏆

Watch the game live on @FanCode and @ddsportschannel 📱📺#KUWIND ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/v9UvBKTk7W

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 4, 2023

SAFF Championship 2023 Final: India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | Lineups | 7:10 P.M.

India:

• GURPREET SINGH SANDHU (GK)
• 11 SUNIL CHHETRI (CAP)
• ANWAR ALI
• SANDESH JHINGAN
• AKASH MISHRA
• ANIRUDH THAPA
• SAHAL ABDUL SAMAD
• JEAKSON SINGH THOUNAOJAM
• LALLIANZUALA CHHANGTE
• N. CHANDRASHEKHAR POOJARY
• MUHAMMED KURUNIYAN

Kuwait:

• ABDULRAHMAN F K M MARZOUQ (GK)
• KHALED M E H HAJIAH (CAP)
• HASAN H GH H ALANEZI
• ABDULLAH A M A A ALBLOUSHI
• SULTAN M S S ALENEZI
• AHMAD AFNJ ALDHEFEERY
• MOHAMMAD D KH ABDULLAH
• SHABAIB A SH T ALKHALDI
• REDHA H W M A ABUJABARAH
• HAMAD T A KH ALQALLAF
• MOBARAK KH H M ALFANEENI

Warming up before the #SAFFChampionship2023 FINAL 😍🤩

Watch the game LIVE on @FanCode & @ddsportschannel 📱📺#KUWIND ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/XyFNimyIYh

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 4, 2023

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 7:26 P.M.

The players leave the tunnel and line up for their national anthems.

THE FINAL IS UNDERWAY!

Watch live on @FanCode and @ddsportschannel 📱📺#KUWIND ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #IndianFootball ⚽️ #BlueTigers 🐯 pic.twitter.com/kRO7Rttmhg

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 4, 2023

SAFF Championship 2023 Final: India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | Kick Off | 7:30 P.M. | 1'

The Final of the SAFF Championship 2023 begins between India and Kuwait.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 4' | Saved

Chhetri's header is caught by Marzouq.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 7' | Offside

Abdullah and Alfaneeni attack against the run of play but Alfaneeni is ruled off-side.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 9'

Kuwait are trying to breach the Indian backline but they are standing like a wall.

SAFF Championship 2023 Final: India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 14' | Goalll!!!!. for Kuwait

Kuwait attacks on the counter. Al Feneeni got the ball and passed it to Albloushi, who provided a brilliant cross to Alkhaldi. He was unmarked in the box and he shoots into the net to give Kuwait an early lead.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 16' | The equaliser almost came for the Blue Tigers

Chhangte takes a shot from the distance to force a save by Marzouq. The goalkeeper fails to keep the ball in his gloves. Chhetri rushes in to strike on the follow-up. Hajiah clears the ball away for Kuwait.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 21' | Free Kick

Kuwait wasted the free kick.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 27' | Early substitution from Kuwait

In: Hamad Alharbi, Out: Hasan Alanezi

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 29' | Yellow card

Jhingan tries to get his head to a free-kick but fouled Alharbi in the process. The referee reaches for the card for the offense—the first booking of the game.

SAFF Championship 2023 Final: India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 38' | Goalll!!!!. for India

Kuruniyan gets the ball after a poor clearance by Al Dhefeery. He turns and passes to Sunil Chhetri, who gave a pass-through to Sahal. He provided the cross to Chhangte, who slot it in for the equaliser.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 41' | Yellow card for Kuwait

Redha Abujabarah gets the first booking for the visitors.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | Triple yellow for Kuwait | 45'

The referee stops play after a rash challenge by Albloushi, who is booked eventually. Aldhefeery aggressively protests the booking and gets a yellow card himself. Seconds later, the coach, Ruoi Bento, is also booked.

SAFF Championship 2023 Final: India (1) vs Kuwait (1) | Live Blog | Half-time

The teams are level at 1-1. The team, however, saw one of its defenders, Anwar Ali, being carried out after an injury.

Conceded early but the #BlueTigers have fought back and found the equaliser through @lzchhangte7 before half time 💙👏🏽🔥

LETS GO, WE GOT THIS 👊🏽#KUWIND ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/91MiODVhAn

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 4, 2023

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 8:33 P.M.

The players are out of the tunnel for the second half.

SAFF Championship 2023 Final: India (1) vs Kuwait (1) | Live Blog | 46' | Kick-off

The second half begins.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 47'

Chhangte and Poojary combine for an attack on the right flank but Kuwait stops it with an India throw-in.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 51'

Thapa successfully completes his defensive duty. He forces Alqallaf to get the ball out of play.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 53' | Jhingan, the saviour

Jhingan intercepts the pass from Abdullah to clear the ball out of play.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 60' | Another yellow card for Kuwait

Alwallaf fouled Thapa just when he was reaching the final third. The referee books Kuwait's No. 15.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 65' | Two cards in two minutes

Ashique & Abdullah received yellow cards.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 68' | Change for Kuwait

In: Eid Alrashidi, Out: Al Faneeni

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 71'

The Blue Tigers are pressing like a machine.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 72' | Double substitution from India

In: Mahesh Singh, Rohit Kumar, Out: Ashique Kuruniyan, Anirudh Thapa

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 74'

Stimac's men controlling the match at the moment.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 77'

9 yellow cards in the match so far.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 78' | Jhingan survived from getting the second yellow

Jhingan tries to intercept Kuwait's long ball for Alkhaldi but ends up fouling him in the process. The referee resumes play after a verbal warning.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 86'

Sahal tries to draw defenders towards himself. He provided a brilliant pass but there are no Indian players to receive the ball.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 89'

Alkhaldi takes Kuwait's free-kick which was pretty much wasted.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 90' | Change for India

In: Udanta Singh, Out: Sahal Abdul Samad

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 90+2' | saved by Gurpreet

Abdullah's right-footed shot for the bottom-left corner was saved by Gurpreet who denies a certain winner for Kuwait.

SAFF Championship 2023 Final: India (1) vs Kuwait (1) | Full-time

The match goes into extra time now.

SAFF Championship 2023 Final: India (1) vs Kuwait (1) | ET first half begins

The first half of the Extra time begins with India rolling the ball.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 96'

Kuwait's attempt from the set piece was wasted as Jhingan got the ball out of the box and then Poojary cleared it out of danger.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 105+3'

Last minute of extra-time first-half. The teams, just like the previous match, have remained extremely level in every department.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | ET Half-time

It's still 1-1 between them.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | ET second half begins

Kuwait gets the second half underway.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 108'

Akash Mishra is down and receiving medical attention.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 112' | Forced change for India

Akash Mishra is still struggling with fitness and India decides to replace him in the last moments, with Subhasish Bose replacing him.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 115' | Another booking for Kuwait

Alfahad tries to get the ball off Rohit Kumar along the left flank and ends up fouling him.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 119'

Chhangte's strike Just over the bar

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | End of Extra-time

120 Minutes could not decide the winner as the teams enter into the penalties.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | Penalty shootout

India will take the first penalty.

• Chhetri hit the bar and it ended in the back of the net. India: 1-0 Kuwait
• Abdullah hits the bar for Kuwait. India: 1-0 Kuwait
• Jhingan scores from the spot. India: 2-0 Kuwait
• Alotaibi sends Gurpreet to the other side to score. India: 2-1 Kuwait
• Chhangte scores for India. India: 3-1 Kuwait
• Aldhefeery scores for Kuwait. India: 3-2 Kuwait
• Udanta misses. India: 3-2 Kuwait
• Mahran steps up for Kuwait and leveled the scoreline. India: 3-3 Kuwait
• Subhasish Bose didn't disappoint the fans and scored from the spot. India: 4-3 Kuwait.
• Alkhaldi finds the bottom left corner to force it to sudden death. India: 4-4 Kuwait.
• Mahesh Singh scores for India. India: 5-4 Kuwait.
• Hajiah, Kuwait's captain, steps up for the next spot-kick. Gurpreet saves the shot to win for India. 

SAFF Championship 2023 Final: India (1) vs Kuwait (1) | Full-time | India wins on penalties (5-4)

Gurpreet came out as the saviour again. He saved two spot kicks to win the title for the Blue Tigers.

Various international women's football players have cemented themselves in history books by achieving remarkable records. At the forefront is Canada's Christine Sinclair, an iconic figure in women's football

This collection of players and their impressive accomplishments underscore the development of women's football and the extraordinary talent that has emerged within the sport over the years. Let’s take a closer look at these stellar performers

Read Also: Real Madrid's Top 5 most expensive signings of all time

Babra Bander: Zambia- 7 

From the streets of Lusaka to the global stage, Barbra Banda’s journey is a testament to determination and raw talent. Born in Zambia’s capital, Banda started playing football at the tender age of seven. But her early sporting prowess wasn’t confined to just football.

Inspired by renowned Zambian boxer Catherine Phiri, Banda also dabbled in boxing at 14, quickly making a name for herself. She dominated the amateur scene, and after winning every bout and seeing other fighters hesitant to face her, Banda turned professional, where she won all five of her matches. However, football eventually took center stage in her life.

In October 2018, Banda signed with Spain's first division club, EDF Logroño, becoming the first Zambian woman to play football in Europe. Her career continued to soar when, in March 2024, she joined the Orlando Pride in the United States, signing a four-year contract that would keep her with the club until 2027.

Her impact on the international stage began early. Banda played for Zambia’s U-17 women’s team at the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, turning 14 during the tournament. Two years later, on March 6, 2016, she made her senior team debut in a Women’s Nations Cup qualifier against Namibia.

The peak of her career came at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Banda captained the Zambian national team as they made their debut appearance at the prestigious tournament. She became the first woman to score consecutive hat-tricks in Olympic history, netting three goals in a 3-10 loss to the Netherlands, she scored another three in a 4-4 draw against China. These performances also made her the first woman to score two hat-tricks in a single Olympic tournament.

Read Also: I didn't set a date or a deadline": Lionel Messi hints at retirement after hat-trick against BoliviaFIFA World Cup 2026: Teams qualified so far

Michelle Akers: United States of America- 7

🇺🇸 @MichelleAkers10
👕 No10 in 1999, 1995 and 1991

All-time #FIFAWWC record
Games: 13
Goals: 12 pic.twitter.com/XlnsSkLXAe

— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 1, 2024

The name Michelle Akers is synonymous with U.S. women’s soccer dominance. With seven career hat-tricks, Akers helped the U.S. win the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup, leading the tournament with 10 goals, including five in a single game.

Her leading the team was crucial to the U.S. women's team securing its first-ever world title, and she later played a vital role in the 1999 World Cup and 1996 Olympics victories. 

Akers was also the lead scorer in the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup in China in 1991. The U.S. women's team defeated Norway 2–1 in the final with Akers scoring both goals.

Ali Al-Biski: Libya - 7

Ali Al-Biski, a former Libyan footballer, played as a striker and holds the record as Libya's all-time top scorer despite the nation’s limited participation in FIFA events during his time. He led the Libyan Premier League in scoring twice—first in 1965 with Al-Madina SC, and again in 1968 with Al Ahli Tripoli. He recorded seven hat-tricks for the national team.

Pelé: Brazil - 7

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, famously known as Pelé, was a Brazilian forward and a football icon, widely hailed as one of the greatest players in history. With a Guinness World Record for 1,279 goals in 1,363 games (including friendlies), Pelé was named Athlete of the Century by the IOC in 1999 and featured in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the 20th century. He debuted for Santos at 15 and for Brazil at 16, winning three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970) and scoring seven hat-tricks for Brazil.

Sándor Kocsis: Hungary - 7

Sándor Kocsis, a Hungarian striker, played for Ferencvárosi TC, Budapest Honvéd, Young Fellows Zürich, and FC Barcelona. After relocating to Spain post-1956 Hungarian Revolution, Kocsis joined Barcelona’s squad. He led the 1954 World Cup with a record 11 goals, scoring 23 times for Hungary that year—a single-year record. Kocsis was also the first player to achieve two hat-tricks in a World Cup.

Cristiane: Brazil- 8

Brazilian forward Cristiane stands alongside the greats, boasting eight hat-tricks throughout her career. A prolific goal scorer, she played a key role in Brazil's silver medal triumphs at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Cristiane has participated in five FIFA Women’s World Cups and four Olympics, with her most recent hat-trick coming in Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Jamaica at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Ali Daei: Iran - 8

Iranian striker and former national team captain, Ali Daei, was renowned as the world’s top scorer in official internationals per the IFFHS, netting 20 goals in 1996. During the 1998 World Cup qualifiers, he scored nine goals over 17 matches, amassing 38 goals in 52 appearances by that time. In 2004, he became the first male to score 100 international goals, reaching 102 with a four-goal game against Laos.

Gerd Müller: Germany - 8

Gerd Müller, a prolific German striker known for his precision in the penalty area, is considered one of football’s top scorers. With West Germany, he scored 68 goals in 62 games. For Bayern Munich, he scored 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga matches and 65 goals in 74 European games, holding a league scoring record. Müller’s eight hat-tricks include two in the 1970 World Cup.

Poul Nielsen: Denmark - 8

Danish striker Poul Nielsen scored 52 goals in 38 games, sharing Denmark’s top-scoring record. He earned a silver medal at the 1912 Olympics and led Kjøbenhavns Boldklub (KB) to six Danish championships. Scoring eight hat-tricks in international play, Nielsen was an iconic figure for Denmark until his death in 1962.

Abby Wambach: United States of America- 8

Mary Abigail Wambach, born on June 2, 1980, is a retired American soccer player, coach, and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. A six-time recipient of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, Wambach was a key player for the U.S. women’s national team from 2003 to 2015.

She earned her first international cap in 2001 and, as a forward, became the highest all-time goal scorer for the U.S. national team. Globally, she ranks second in international goals for both men and women with 184 goals, trailing only Canada's Christine Sinclair.

Wambach competed in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments: the 2003 edition in the U.S., the 2007 event in China, the 2011 tournament in Germany, and the 2015 competition in Canada. She also represented the U.S. in the 2004 Athens and 2012 London Olympics.

Throughout these five major international tournaments, Wambach played 30 matches and netted 22 goals. She helped her team secure two Olympic gold medals, third-place finishes twice at the Women's World Cup, a second-place finish in 2011, and ultimately, a World Cup victory in 2015.

Read Also: FIFA World Cup 2026: Teams qualified so far

Carli Lloyd: United States of America- 9

Carli Lloyd is another legend of international football, having represented the U.S. from 2012 to 2021. Over her remarkable career, she earned two Olympic gold medals (in 2008 and 2012) and won two FIFA Women's World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. In addition, she was named FIFA Player of the Year twice, in 2015 and 2016, and competed in four Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016, and 2021).

Lloyd’s capacity for rising to the occasion was evident when she scored the decisive goals in the gold medal matches of both the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. She was also instrumental in the U.S. clinching World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, she also secured a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She played in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where the US finished as runners-up.

Ali Mabkhout: UAE - 9

Ali Mabkhout, a forward for Al Nasr and the UAE national team, debuted with Al Jazira in 2009. A pivotal figure in UAE’s 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal win over Australia, he became UAE’s top scorer on October 10, 2019, with a hat-trick against Indonesia in a 5-0 victory.

Sven Rydell: Sweden- 9

Swedish striker Sven Rydell scored 49 goals in 43 matches, a record that stood for over 80 years until broken by Zlatan Ibrahimović in 2014. Rydell’s international career included a bronze medal at the 1924 Olympics, and he holds the Swedish record of nine international hat-tricks.

Vivian Woodward: England - 10

Vivian Woodward, an English forward, starred from the early 1900s to World War I, playing for Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. As Great Britain’s captain, he won gold at the 1908 and 1912 Olympics, recording six hat-tricks for England amateurs and four for England’s national team.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal- 10

At the age of 18, Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal as a substitute against Kazakhstan on 20 August 2003. At UEFA Euro 2004, he scored his first international goal in a 2–1 group stage loss to Greece in his eighth international appearance.

In 2016, Ronaldo led Portugal to their first-ever trophy at the UEFA Euro 2016, although he was subbed off in the 25th minute in the final against hosts France.He received the Silver Boot as the second-highest goalscorer.

In the 2018 World Cup, Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match, in a 3–3 draw against Spain Cristiano Ronaldo became the first male player to score 10 hat-tricks for a national team on 12 October 2021 in Portugal's 5–0 win against Luxembourg, breaking Sven Rydell's record.

Lionel Messi: Argentina -10

Lionel Messi debuted for Argentina’s U20 team in 2004 and won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. His senior debut came in 2005 at 18. In 2021, he ended Argentina’s 28-year trophy drought with a Copa América win. On October 15, 2024, Messi scored his 10th international hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Bolivia.

Christine Sinclair: Canada- 11

Christine Margaret Sinclair is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). From 2000 until her international retirement in 2023, she was a key member of the Canadian national team. 

Sinclair is an Olympic gold medalist, two-time Olympic bronze medalist, CONCACAF champion, and has won the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award 14 times. She holds the world record for the most international goals scored by any player, male or female, with 190 goals and is among the most-capped players in international soccer, with 331 appearances.

In a career spanning more than two decades with the senior national team, Sinclair has competed in six FIFA Women's World Cups and four Olympic Football Tournaments, leading her team to bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, and to gold in 2020.

She is one of only three players to score in five different World Cup tournaments, alongside Marta and Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2022, Sinclair was honored with the Best FIFA Special Award for her achievement as the world’s top goal scorer.

Notably, Sinclair scored her eleventh international hat-trick during a 2012 Olympic match against the United States, netting all three of Canada’s goals in a 3–4 loss.

Read Also: Most valuable Spanish players in history: Yamal goes past Rodri

Alex Morgan: United States of America- 12 

Alexandra Patricia Morgan, born on July 2, 1989, is a retired American professional soccer player who last played as a striker for San Diego Wave FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), where she served as captain, as well as for the United States national team. She co-captained the U.S. national team with Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe from 2018 to 2020, and later with Lindsay Horan in 2023.

Morgan was the first overall pick in the 2011 WPS Draft by the Western New York Flash, where she made her professional debut and contributed to the team's league championship win. At 22, she was the youngest player on the U.S. national team at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where the team finished as runner-up.

During the 2012 London Olympics, Morgan scored the decisive goal in the 123rd minute of the semi-final against Canada. She ended 2012 with 28 goals and 21 assists, becoming the second American woman, after Mia Hamm, to record 20 goals and 20 assists in a single year. This achievement made her the sixth and youngest U.S. player to reach 20 goals in one season. Morgan was named U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year and became a FIFA World Player of the Year finalist.

She played a crucial role in the U.S. team's victories at the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cups, earning a spot on the Dream Team in both tournaments and winning the Silver Boot in 2019. Morgan recorded her eleventh international hat-trick with five goals on 11 June 2019 in the United States 13–0 victory over Thailand in the 2019 World

Her record-breaking twelfth international hat-trick came in 2021 against Paraguay in a game where the United States dominated and won 8-0.

The Durand Cup was first held in Shimla which was a popular retreat for the British back in the day. Sir Henry Durand was recovering from an illness in the hill station and realised the importance of physical health for soldiers in the Army.

There were several army regiments and military units that were originally involved in the tournament and it became an inter-regiment tournament essentially.

They were initially only inclined towards playing Hockey given the popularity of the sport in India at that time but football gradually picked up.

FT| #NEUFC 6-1 #DHFC

A dominating performance by #NEUFC from start to finish as the defending champions successfully retain the title.

A statement win! History Created!#NEUFCDHFC #FINAL #134thEditionofIndianOilDurandCup #PoweredBySBIandCoalIndia #DurandCup2025… pic.twitter.com/IQbAnW5tdq

— Durand Cup (@thedurandcup) August 23, 2025

The event itself was a major deal and people came from all across the country to watch the final which was a highly publicised event. It was also a great platform for Indian football clubs to defeat the British regiments which of course, rarely happened at that time.

However, events post World War II that also involved the cancellation and relocation of the tournament ushered a new era for Indian football.

The Durand Cup was later shifted to Delhi post 1940 and opened for civilian clubs and teams. This brought in the likes of Mohammedan, Salgaocar, East Bengal and all the other legendary I-League teams that have since dominated the proceedings.

It is now held under the Durand Football Tournament Society and has been the continuously held every year to attract top Indian teams and players from leagues such as the ISL, I-league and even Armed forces football teams.

The inclusion of ISL and Armed forces teams has helped expand the reach of the tournament.

Take a look at some of the winners and runner-ups of Durand Cup, one of the most popular football tournaments in India. Durand Cup has been a success for many years with all the details about the show since 2000.

Read More: https://sportzpoint.com/football/premier-league-stats-man-city-players-leading-all-charts-in-goals-assists-passes-and-clean-sheets/

Most Durand Cup Wins:

Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are the most successful teams in the history of the tournament winning it a record 17 and 16 times respectively.

Royal Scouts Fusiliers were the first-ever winners and Mohammedan Sporting were the first Indian to win the competition. Bengaluru Fc are the reigning champions.

For more Durand Cup news and articles, follow Sportz Point.

Cristiano Ronaldo might be playing in Saudi Arabia these days, but he's still racking up records in Portuguese colours. Among male footballers, Ronaldo holds the record for most international goals of all time, as part of his enduring pursuit of titles and records. The 40-year-old also has most international appearances in the history of men's football after playing his 200th game for Portugal in June 2023. 

In this article, we'll look at the active football players with the most international goals.

Also Read: Messi vs Ronaldo: Who has scored the most non-penalty goals?

Most International Goals by Active Players (2025)

10. Edin Dzeko | 68 goals

Edin Dzeko is one of the most underrated strikers of his generation. The Inter Milan marksman is 39 years old but is still going strong. He has won the 'Bosnian Footballer of the Year' award three successive times in his career.

Dzeko has been quite prolific for his national team. He has scored 68 goals and provided 21 assists in his international career so far.

9. Harry Kane | 73 goals

Captain Harry Kane became the first player to score two goals on his 100th appearance for England. The striker scored his 67th and 68th international goals in the second half of the Nations League at Wembley over Finland, thundering an excellent strike in off the underside of the bar, then curling in a neat finish.

He also became just the third player to score on his 100th England appearance, after Wayne Rooney (versus Slovenia in 2014) and Bobby Charlton (against Northern Ireland in 1970).

Before kick-off, Kane was presented with a golden cap to mark the achievement, and also wore golden boots during the match.

8. Luis Suarez | 69 goals

Uruguay international Luis Suarez has had an illustrious career. He won the European Golden Shoe twice in the last decade and is widely regarded as one of the best centre-forwards of the 21st century.

Suarez, who recently led Uruguay to World Cup qualification, has scored 68 goals in his international career.

7. Neymar | 79 goals

Neymar Jr. is one of the most talented footballers we have seen in the 21st century. He is a joy to watch on the football pitch and is capable of producing moments of magic on a regular basis.

Neymar is one of the most innovative forwards of the modern era. He has been absolutely phenomenal for Brazil and is now surpassed Pele's goalscoring record for Brazil (77). Neymar has scored 79 goals and for the Brazilian national team so far in his career.

6. Robert Lewandowski | 85 goals

Robert Lewandowski is currently the most prolific goalscorer in Europe's top five leagues. The Bayern Munich striker has played some of the best football of his career in recent seasons.

Lewandowski has been a cut above the rest of his national teammates throughout his career. He has been a standout performer for Poland in recent years. The 36-year-old has scored 85 goals for Poland in international football.

Also Read: Top 12 players with most hat-tricks in football in the 21st century

5. Ali Mabkhout | 85 goals

Al Jazira and UAE legend Ali Mabkhout is a clinical finisher and as well as being one of his club's best scorers. However, he is also the United Arab Emirates' top international scorer of all time. He has a total of 85 international goals to his name. 

During the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals, Mabkhout netted the only goal in a 1–0 victory over defending champions Australia, which helped his country qualify for the semi-finals. Mabkhout scored a hat-trick against Indonesia in a 5–0 win in 2019 to become UAE's all-time leading goalscorer.

4. Romelu Lukaku | 89 goals

Romelu Lukaku has been a beast in attack for Belgium's golden generation. He has consistently produced the goods for his star-studded national team and continues to do so.

Lukaku's form at club level may have fluctuated but he has maintained high standards in international football. The 32-year-old has scored 89 goals in his international career so far.

3. Sunil Chhetri | 95 goals

Sunil Chhetri is regarded as one of the best football players India has ever produced. In a career spanning over two decades, the centre-forward has won many individual as well as team accolades.

With 95 goals to his name in 154 international appearances, Chhetri is the third highest goal-scorer in international matches, only behind Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi of Argentina.

Also Read: Every Indian Team Football Coach Since 1948

Since Sunil Chhetri’s first senior professional goal for Mohun Bagan in the National Football League season (2002-03), the Indian football great has notched up many goal-scoring feats for both club and country.

2. Lionel Messi | 112 goals 

Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers, has had a remarkable international career with Argentina. Messi, with 112 international goals, ranks second on the all-time top goal-scorers list, trailing only Ronaldo. Since his debut in 2005, Messi has earned 189 caps, leading Argentina to victories in the Copa America and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Argentina and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi can still catch Ronaldo for the record, if he plays on through to the 2026 World Cup and perhaps beyond.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo | 138 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo holds the world record for international goals, scoring 138 for Portugal since making his debut in 2003. He is also the all-time leading appearance-maker in men's international football, having played 221 games, eclipsing the previous record of 196 held by Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa against Liechtenstein on 23 March 2023, and marking the occasion with two goals. He has hit ten international hat-tricks, a record he shares with Lionel Messi.

Also Read: Every Manchester United records that may never be broken

Ronaldo broke the world record for international goals when he scored twice against the Republic of Ireland in Portugal's European Qualifier in Faro-Loulé on 1 September 2021, aged 36. He surpassed the existing world-record mark set by former Iran forward Ali Daei, the first man to claim a century of international goals. Lionel Messi joined the elite group on 28 March 2023.

East Bengal is one of Asia's biggest and most supported football clubs. In October 2020, the club was voted as the most popular football club in India on an AFC poll by its supporters.

The East Bengal Club was established on 1st August 1920 by Suresh Chandra Chaudhury along with some other dignitaries, and the club's first captain was Ramesh Chandra Sen.

The Kolkata-based club has created a lot of records and won so many trophies. The Football club was going through a tough phase as they hadn't won a major trophy since the 2013-14 season.

But, under the new Manager and coaching staff, the Red & Gold Brigade are playing good football. So, let's look at the trophies East Bengal has won in its footballing history.

East Bengal FC Trophies List

East Bengal played their first match in the 1920 Hercules Cup, which was a 7-a-side tournament that they won. They won their first-ever full tournament in 1921 and lifted the Khogendra Shield.

The Red and Gold brigade qualified for the Calcutta Football League 1st division in 1925. They won their first 1st title in 1942. Then the Kolkata-based club lifted their first IFA Shield in 1943. In 1945, East Bengal won their first double, claiming both the Calcutta Football League and the IFA Shield.

From 1949-51, East Bengal became the first team to make a hat-trick of wins in the IFA Shield. In 1972, East Bengal won the Calcutta Football League, IFA Shield, Durand Cup, and Rovers Cup in a single season, becoming the first team to do so.

In 1972, East Bengal also made a record of being the first and till date, only Indian team to win the Calcutta Football League without conceding a single goal, which they again repeated in 1991.

East Bengal won its first First Division league title in 1942 and has since won it a record 39 times. They have also won eight Federation Cups, three Super Cups, a record 29 IFA Shields, the Kuladakanta Shield, and MLA CUP, alongside 16 Durand Cup titles, making the club one of the most decorated in Indian football.

Khalid Jamil has been named as the new head coach of the Indian Men's Senior Football team, as AIFF chose him over Stephen Constantine and Stefan Tarkovic from the final list. With Jamil becoming the new boss of the Blue Tigers, we present you with the stats and history of his career as a football manager so far.

Read Also: Football facts: Five managers who have coached Club and country at the same time

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐁𝐎𝐒𝐒 🇮🇳

Khalid Jamil has been named the new head coach of the Indian Men's Senior Football team.

Stephen Constantine and Stefan Tarkovic were the other finalised names, but AIFF have gone for the Jamshedpur FC coach.#AIFF #IndianFootball #KhalidJamil pic.twitter.com/KrnxkQUB6F

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) August 1, 2025

Khalid Jamil stats as manager

Since retiring as a professional footballer, Jamil started his managerial career with Mumbai FC in 2009. Jamil went on to coach them for 7 years until he joined Aizawl FC in December 2016. It was with Aizawl FC where his career took a turn after leading them to a miraculous I-League title in the 2016/17 season.

After the I-League success, Khalid coached two Kolkata giants, first East Bengal in the 2017-18 season and then ATK Mohun Bagan (which is now Mohun Bagan Super Giant) in the next season.

Read Also: Every Indian Team Football Coach Since 1948

However, Khalid did not get that much success with those two Kolkata clubs, and he joined Northeast United FC as the academy head in 2019. From 2019-22, Jamil served as Assistant manager, caretaker manager and then head coach of NEUFC. After that, he spent one season with Bengaluru United.

Finally, in 2023, he arrived at Jamshedpur FC, where he showed his class as the head coach and uplifted a few young Indian talents as well. Last season under him, Jamshedpur FC reached the semi-finals of the Indian Super League as well, and Khalid became the first Indian coach to achieve that feat.

His experince and understanding of Indian football is supposed to be a ground-breaking factor for the upcoming few months of Indian football.

Data by transfermarkt.