Top five all-time top scorers for Indian football team

Sunil Chhetri is the fourth-highest international goal-scorer of all-time

While football is a team sport, it’s the individual brilliance of goal-scorers that often end up stealing the show. The Indian football team have some prolific goal-getters. Scoring goals is something that requires a blend of several physical attributes, technical skills, mental fortitude, and most importantly tactical awareness.

While the ability to score goals is a rare gift, It can be honed and developed through hard work, discipline, consistency and dedication. It’s a skill that not everyone possesses, and those who do are often celebrated as heroes. The ability to find the back of the net consistently is what separates the great players from the good, and what makes the goal scorers the most celebrated players of the game.

The role of a national team goal scorer is of greater significance. They carry the hopes and dreams of a nation, inspiring many with their performances. Their goals are more than just statistics, they are symbols of the nation’s pride. They are the heroes who capture the hearts of fans and leave an enduring legacy. Their names are etched in the history of Indian football and their goals are celebrated for years to come.

Let’s take a look at the players who have scored the highest number of goals for the Indian football team.

5. P.K. Banerjee (16 goals, 52 appearances) & Magan Singh Rajvi (16 goals, 36 appearances)

Pradip Kumar Banerjee, often known as PK Banerjee or PK was a true legend of the game. PK Banerjee is a name synonymous with skill, flair, and leadership. As a striker, he possessed a natural ability to find the back of the net, scoring crucial goals for both his club and country. His dribbling skills, precise passing, and clinical finishing made him a nightmare for defenders. As a player, he represented many clubs like Bihar, Bengal, Railways, and Eastern Railways in tournaments like the Santosh Trophy and the CFL. As a manager, he managed top-tier clubs like East Bengal, Mohammedan and Mohun Bagan. He also served as the technical director for the Tata Football Academy and Mohammedan SC.

PK Banerjee and Magan Singh Rajvi, share a remarkable record: both of them have scored 16 international goals individually while representing the Indian national football team. One of PK Banerjee’s notable achievements was when he captained India at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Notably, he scored an equalizer against France in an exhilarating draw of 1-1 and played 52 games.

4. Jeje Lalpekhlua (23 goals, 56 appearances)

Jeje Lalpekhlua who was simply known as Jeje was a prolific goal scorer. Throughout his career, he has represented several prominent clubs, including Pune FC, Dempo SC, Mohun Bagan Chennaiyin FC, and East Bengal FC. His pace, agility, and clinical finishing instantly made him a fan favourite.

Jeje’s career trajectory has been impressive, rising from humble beginnings to becoming a key player for both the Indian National team and his club in the ISL. His ability to score goals and create chances has made him a vital asset to every team he has played for. Jeje has scored a total of 23 goals for the Indian national football team in 56 games.

3. I.M. Vijayan (32 goals, 73 appearances)

With 32 goals to his name in 73 games, Inivalappil Mani Vijayan, often hailed as the “Kalo hiran” is a legendary figure in Indian football. Known for his blistering pace, and clinical finishing, Vijayan was a force to be reckoned with on the field. He has represented several prominent clubs throughout his career. He has donned the jerseys of Kerala Police, Mohun Bagan, FC Kochin, East Bengal, and Churchill Brothers.

His partnership with Bhaichung Bhutia formed one of the most iconic duos in Indian football history. Together, they led the Indian national team to memorable victories. I.M. Vijayan also holds the record for the fastest goal in the Indian football team’s history (12 seconds), when he scored against Bhutan in the South Asian Games in 1999 held in Kathmandu. This goal currently is the 9th fastest goal in men’s International football history.

2. Bhaichung Bhutia (43 goals, 104 appearances)

Known for his exceptional skill, pace, and clinical finishing, Bhaichung Bhutia was a dominant force in Indian football for over a decade. Beyond his goal-scoring skills, Bhutia was also a natural leader. He captained the Indian national team for many years, inspiring people with his passion, determination, and work ethic. His leadership qualities were instrumental in India’s success during his playing days.

He has played for clubs like Perak FC, MK Land FC, United Sikkim, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. One of his career highlights include his stint at Bury FC, making him one of the first Indians to play for a European club.

He is also the first Indian player to play in the English FA Cup, famously against Manchester United. He is also the first Asian footballer to score a goal in English pro-football, when he scored against Chesterfield on 15 April 2000.

The Sikkimese Sniper has a total of 43 goals to his name in 104 games. He had the ability to find the back of the net from various angles and had a knack for scoring important goals. Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich visited India for Bhaichung Bhutia’s farewell game.

1. Sunil Chhetri (94 goals, 151 appearances)

Captain, Leader and Legend Sunil Chhetri has been the spearhead of the Indian attack for over a decade. Whether it’s a penalty kick, a curling shot, or just a delicate chip, Chhetri possesses a wide range of goal-scoring techniques. In 2010, Sunil Chhetri made history by becoming the first Indian player to play in the prestigious Major League Soccer (MLS) and was just the third Indian to play outside of South Asia.

Chhetri’s goal-scoring skills are unparalleled. He has been a part of the ISL and played for the Indian national team for over a decade, breaking numerous records and setting new benchmarks. He has represented iconic Indian clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Jagatjit, United SC, Mumbai City FC Dempo SC, and more recently, Bengaluru FC. His international experience includes a stint with the Kansas City Wizards in the Major League Soccer and Sporting CP B in Portugal

Sunil Chhetri is currently the highest all-time goal scorer of the ISL. He is also the fourth-highest international goal-scorer and holds the record for the most-capped player with 151 games and the all-time top goal-scorer of the Indian football team with a total of 94 goals.

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