Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri on Monday said that he doesn't take the comparison with Lionel Messi seriously. He sounded modest when asked about Messi similarities. "I don't take the comparison seriously. Messi is of different level. I am just happy that I have scored 64 goals for my country," said Chhetri. Chhetri thanked people for the support that he received at the stadium after he urged them to support the Indian football team. "Happy for everyone who was on pitch and off pitch. If we get support from people like we got in Mumbai, we'll give everything for India. It is really motivating when the stadium is jam-packed," he said. Chhetri became the joint second highest international goal scorer among active players along with Lionel Messi with his 64th strike for the nation against Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup summit clash. Chhetri and Messi are behind Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo who has 81 goals from 150 matches.<doc-sep>Jun 12, 2018, 07:00AM IST Source: TNN Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri has now 64 international goals in 102 games. Chhetri joins Lionel Messi as second-highest international goal scorer among active players. Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has more goals to his name. However, Chhetri’s average of 0.62 goals per match is better than Messi (0.52) and Ronaldo (0.54).<doc-sep>Sunil Chhetri in action | Photo Credit: BCCL India is 97th on current FIFA rankings list but with a bolstered support at the Intercontinental Cup 2018, fans are now expecting the team to surge. India outclassed 116th ranked Kenya team 2-0, riding on Blue Tigers skipper Sunil Chhetri's brace, on Sunday at Mumbai Football arena to lift the 4-nation Intercontinental Cup. Fans thronged stadium after Chhetri's emotional appeal and now after delivering them, the 33-year-old Chhetri wants to better team India's position in the continent. “We should play as many games as possible. If I may say so, our away record has been poor," Chhetri said on the sidelines of a function announcing FIFA World Cup 2018 official match ball carriers from India on Monday. "We can’t invite the better-ranked teams at home. But I believe we should play stronger opponents in away games to be among the top 10 in Asia,” Chhetri was quoted by Hindustan Times. “In my mind, the first goal is to get inside Asia’s top 10. We have to accept that we are still not there. Teams like Saudi Arabia, Iran or Australia are much better than us,” he added. Indian skipper playing in his 102nd international game scored a brace and raised his tally to 64 goals. He came on par with the Argentine spectacle Lionel Messi in terms of international goals scored. He is now second on the list of most prolific scorers active in the international circuit and is only behind Cristiano Ronaldo who has 81 goals. “There is absolutely no comparison. They are world-class players. I have seen the graphics on me getting the same number of goals as Messi. One should just watch those memes, be happy and forget about it,” Chhetri said about being compared with Messi and Ronaldo.<doc-sep>New Delhi: The Indian football team put up a clinical show in the Intercontinental Cup as they beat Kenya 2-0 in the final to emerge winners in the four-nation tournament. And the man who led the show from the front for India was Sunil Chhetri. The India skipper is a happy man as the team takes baby steps towards preparing for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup in 2019. Chhetri feels that the team is headed in the right direction as the boys get ready for some tought competition in the Asian Cup. He spoke to CNN-News18 about the journey in the Intercontinental Cup and the road ahead. Here are the excerpts: Yash: Sunil a wonderful tournament for India and for you personally. How satisfied are you with the performance of the team, the turnout, the video and everything to winning the tournament? Sunil Chhetri: The turnout was absolutely brilliant. The boys played magnificently. So I am happy and satisfied with the performance. Yash: What message would you like to give to the fans, who thronged the stadium after the video and Viking chants? Sunil Chhetri: Just Thank You. You guys have made us understand that how important you are. If football has to go anywhere up in India, you guys play a very big important role in it. For your clubs, for your country, whenever come and support us in numbers. And as far as boys are concerned, we make sure that we give you a great show. Yash: And any comment on the Viking chants, they were marvellous. Sunil Chhetri: Brilliant done by Iceland. I think they did it during the Euros. Not only us, but a lot of other teams worldwide participate and do it and we enjoy it. It was the fans who did, we liked it. The buzz which was created was amazing and we enjoyed it. Yash: And what about the two kids, Nathania and Rishi, who will carry the ball to the stadium in FIFA World Cup, what experience will they bring when they will come back after watching the match from stadium. Sunil Chhetri: They will be completely different people when they come back. They are already buzzing, I mean they are very very sharp kids, especially Nathania. She is a rockstar. I wish them all the luck. But it's a great initiative by Kia. They have worked really hard in zeroing down two kids from 1500, which isn't easy and when you want to give equal opportunity to everyone. Four kids are also going as substitutes, but these two will go to the pitch, one of them in Brazil game and one of them in Belgium game, so I wish them all the luck. Just go and enjoy man. Yash: And talking about the world cup, who do you will reach the final. Like there is Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, and France. Who do you think will reach the finals? Sunil Chhetri: I will take Germany's name. I think Germany is very strong. I think Brazil and Spain are strong. I think Belgium and France have a very deep squad, a very talented one. Portugal and Argentina have the best players in the world. But I also think that England are dark horses as they don't have that much of pressure which they generally have. I think Germany and Brazil are strong teams. Yash: At the last World Cup we saw James Rodriguez becoming the breakout star. Who do you think would be this time? Sunil Chhetri:- Breakout star, somebody who is famous but not that famous. So, Mbappe is already a star but he is a great talent. France is a team which might reach the last four. So yes he is a star. Mueller might break the record as Germany are going to reach the final stages. Griezmann is in great form. Kante from France is also another great talent. I mean there are so many young players. So every one of you, stop what all you are doing. Go and watch the World Cup.<doc-sep>
After striking a brace to help the Indian men's football team clinch Intercontinental Cup title, captain Sunil Chhetri offered a humble reaction to levelling Lionel Messi's interntional goal tally of 64. Chhetri's two goals drew him level with Argentina's star striker Messi and placed him next only to Portugal's Crisriano Ronaldo on the list of active players with most number of international goals. "I don't take the comparison seriously. Messi is of different level. I'm just happy that I've scored 64 goals for my country," Chhetri was quoted as saying by ANI on Monday. Chhetri came into the spotlight after posting a video on Twitter in which he appealed to fans to come watch the Indian team play in the stadium during the Intercontinental Cup. "I wasn't thinking anything. It was something that came in my mind. I am happy that people understood it and I was really happy to get such support," said Chhetri. "Happy for everyone who was on pitch and off pitch. If we get support from people like we got in Mumbai, we'll give everything for India. It is really motivating when the stadium is jam-packed," he added. Chhetri struck two sublime strikes in the seventh and the 29th minute, one off his right and the second off his left, to help India beat Kenya 2-0 at Mumbai Football Arena and lift the Intercontinental Cup on Sunday. Speaking following the win, Chhetri said that his side have had tough 20 days, but their determination helped them to bounce back and come out victorious eventually. "Football is my life and I am living it. After 20 tough days, we won the tournament. We had tough time. We lost match against New Zealand but we came back and seal the victory. All of us have the determination for the game and for the country," Chhetri said. #WATCH: 'I'm happy that people understood it & I was really happy to get such support', says Sunil Chhetri, Captain, Indian football team on the video in which he urged the people to support the Indian football team. pic.twitter.com/y0YxqJkKQV — ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2018 Chhetri was impressive throughout the prestigious tournament, having notched up eight goals-- including a hat-trick against Chinese Taipei. He smashed two goals against Kenya during his 100th international match, while his one goal came against New Zealand in the last Intercontinental Cup game. (Inputs from ANI)