Most International Goals by Indian footballers

The representation of India in international football games has increased and improved a lot. They are getting recognition and support slowly but steadily. Even their performances have improved on many levels which are attracting audiences towards them. Indian footballers are shedding their blood and sweat in making the team successful and all they need is support from the Indian fans and they will continue giving their best as always. Here is a list of the top 8 Indian footballers who scored the most international goals.

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1. Sunil Chhetri

Sunil Chhetri the brightest star of the Indian football team plays as a striker in the team. The captain of the team has glorified his nation globally by being the second-highest active goal-scoring in the world. He has suppressed the G.O.A.T of football, Lionel Messi, and scored 74 goals in 118 International games. He generally plays in the forward position. The captain made his debut in 2005 and till then he has received 115 international caps for India. Chhetri is the first recipient of the Football Ratna Award by the Delhi Football Association. Also, he received prestigious awards like Arjuna Award and Padma Shri.

2. IM Vijayan

The highest goal scorer in the early 2000s is I.M. Vijayan. He started his International Football career in 1989 and retired in 2004. Until his retirement, he was the highest goal scorer. In the last years of his career, he played in 79 International matches and scored 40 goals. He was nicknamed Kalo Harin as well. In the late 90s and early 2000s, his partnership with Baichung Bhutia has been very successful in attacking. He also received 66 International caps for India. Vijayan played as a striker. In 1993, 1997, and 1999 he received the Indian Player of the Year. The former footballer has been awarded Arjuna Award and he is also a nominee of 2020 Padma Shri. He scored 29 goals in 66 games and enlisted his name in the second position.

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3. Baichung Bhutia

Baichung Bhutia has been one of the footballers who strengthen the Indian team. He joined the Indian football team in 1995 and retired in 2011. Due to his immense contribution to the team, he has been described as "God's gift to Indian football" by I.M. Vijayan. He made his International debut at the very young age of 19 against Thailand. He scored his first goal against Uzbekistan in the 1995 Nehru cup and became India's youngest goalscorer. From 1995 to 2011, he became the second Indian footballer with the most International caps. During these years, he played in 82 games and scored 27 goals, and became the third-highest goal scorer from India. The former Indian footballer has been awarded AIFF Player of the Year in 1995 and 2008, Arjuna Award in 1998 Padma Shri in 2008 Asian Football Hall of Fame in 2014, and Banga Bhushan in 2014.

4. Jeje Lalpekhlua

In 2011, Jeje Lalpekhlua join the Indian football team and till now he has played 56 games and scored 23 goals. In the Indian Super League he is the second highest Indian goal scorer as well. His position in the field is forward. He is also the 11th Indian footballer with the most International caps with 56 caps.

5. Shabbir Ali

Shabbir Ali is a former Indian footballer who joined the team in 1974 and retired in 1984 after playing for 10 years in the team. He has been the captain of the Indian football team in Asian Youth, pre-Olympics, Nehru Cup, Merdeka and King's Cup tournaments. During the 1970s and 1980s he was considered as the best Indian footballer. During his time he was undoubtedly the finest striker of the team and had the ability to goal at crucial points as well. He also scored a hat-trick against Indonesia in the 1976 Mardeka international football tournament within the very first 35 minutes. His career has been phenomenal and he has also been awarded with Dhyan Chand award and India's best football coach. In these 10 years he played 66 games and scored 23 goals.

6. Magan Rajvi

Magan Rajvi is a former Indian footballer who has also been the captain of the team in 1973 and 1974. He has also scored a hat-trick against Thailand in the 1974 Merdeka Cup. In 33 games he scored 15 goals and became the 6th footballer on this list. He is a bronze medalist and received the medal in the 1970 Asian Games. The former captain of the Indian football team has also received Arjuna Award in 1973.

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7. PK Banerjee

The former Indian footballer P. K. Banerjee played as a striker in the team. He has also been the captain of the team and coach as well. The Arjuna Award was instituted in 1961 and he is one of the first recipients to receive the prestigious award. He has also received Padma Shri and FIFA Order of Merit. IFFHS also named him the Indian footballer of the 20th century. The former captain represented the Indian National team in three Asian games. During his career, he played 45 games and scored 15 goals.

8. Neville D'Souza

The 8th Indian footballer to score the most number of goals is Neville D'Souza. He became the first Asian player who scored a hat-trick in the Olympics. In the tournament he finished as the joint top scorer. He scored a total of four goals in three games which also includes a hattrick against Australia. In his football career he played 15 games and scored 11 goals.