Sunil Chhetri: I am better than Messi and Ronaldo

Sunil Chhetri after winning three trophies with the national team in the recent past believes he can outshine stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Indian National Football Team captain has played a crucial role in the success that the Indian team has enjoyed in the recent past. The 38-year-old Indian star player recently won the SAFF Championship in Bengaluru. Chhetri is the 3rd highest active goal scorer only behind Messi and Ronaldo.

While acknowledging a good shift in fans’ perceptions of Indian football, Chhetri stresses the need for both the squad and the supporters to maintain their sincerity and caution. Chhetri said, “There was never a problem with the match-going fans, but yes, there has been an increase in the number of people who have started talking about football, and I think that’s a really good thing. I can sense the atmosphere is changing. But at the same time, I know we have jumped up a few ranks, we still have a long way to go. We have to just keep up the good work and stay focused on where we want to reach now.”

Asian Cup

The aim for Chhetri and the Indian team currently is to perform in the Asian Cup. The captain said, “The Asian Cup is like the World Cup for us. It is right at the very top of our list, and therefore, performing our best there is paramount. I don’t mean to put this pressure on the boys, but we should be qualifying for the Asian Cup every time.”

While talking about their chances in international football the star forward said, “Right now, international football is such that no one knows what will happen, and underdogs, too, can win! You just never know what is going to happen in football. That’s why we have to give our best, and that’s a message I am trying to send to the rest of the team”  

Comparison with greats of the game like Ronaldo and Messi

Chhetri is currently the 4th highest goal-scorer in international football and thor among active players only behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He has a superior goal-scoring ratio in comparison to Messi and Ronaldo. “There’s no comparison with the rest of the nine names on the list. I mean, I am a fan of players like Ronaldo and Messi, just like so many other fans of them. There’s just no comparison, and I don’t take this list, or whatever this list is, too seriously. But, yes, when it comes to representing the national team, I can be even better than them,” Chhetri said while talking about the comparisons being made between him and players like Messi and Ronaldo.