Sunil Chhetri overtakes Lionel Messi again, becomes second-highest active international goalscorer

The 34-year-old now has 70 goals under his belt for his country.

Even as India lost 2-4 to Tajikistan in their Hero Intercontinental Cup opener at the EKA Arena by TransStadia on Sunday evening, the Blue Tigers' skipper Sunil Chhetri has once again gone ahead of Argentine great Lionel Messi in international goals' tally.

Although Captain Fantastic was leading with three goals against Messi prior to the Copa America preparation games. Then, Messi scored a brace in a friendly and scored another in Copa America against Paraguay. Both the captains were tied at 68 goals. And now in the game against Tajikistan, the 34-year-old converted a penalty in the 4th minute, which became his 69th international goal for the Blue Tigers, before scoring the second goal in the 40th minute.

A continuing tussle to become the second-highest international goalscorer has been going on between Chhetri and Messi for some time, and Sunday marked the second time the Indian has overtaken the Argentina and FC Barcelona man to reach newer heights.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man ????????????▶️1️⃣ @Cristiano ⬆️2️⃣ @chetrisunil11 ⬇️3️⃣ @TeamMessi????????1-0???????? #INDTJK #BlueTigers #IndianFootball #BackTheBlue #HeroIC pic.twitter.com/HI6iFKmmnB

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 7, 2019

Watch: Indian football team fans chants ahead of India's game against Tajikistan

Chhetri's 69th goal came against Tajikistan, when an opposition defender brought down Lallianzuala Chhangte in their box and the referee awarded the Indian side a penalty. Chhetri decided to take it and put it past the Tajik goalkeeper, with a swift shot from the left to provide India with an early lead.

The 34-year old's 70th goal came in the 40th minute when he received a pass from Mandar Rao Dessai in the opposition box and following a 180-degree turn, India took a two-goal lead in the next moment.

Apart from Messi, the goals also helped Chhetri overtake German great Gerd Muller, Northern Ireland legend Robbie Keane and Guatemala's Carlos Ruiz, all of whom have scored 68 international goals for their respective sides. Although, the second-highest active goalscorer in the world right now, the Indian talisman has also become the 17th highest international goalscorer with several all-time greats such as Didier Drogba, Ronaldo Nazario de Lima, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Villa trailing behind him.

And as it stands, he is ten goals ahead of fourth-placed Neymar, 12 goals from fifth-placed Luis Suarez and 13 goals from Robert Lewandowski among the active international goalscorers.

However, the Blue Tigers suffered a remarkable collapse as the quartet of Komron Tursunov, Sheriddin Boboev, Muhammadjon Rahimov and Shahrom Samiev scored four goals in the space of 19 minutes to script a remarkable comeback for the visitors