FIFA shoots 'special series' with Sunil Chhetri as part of regional content initiative

FIFA shooting a "special series" on him in appreciation of a stellar career for a country for whom a World Cup participation remains a pipedream after years of bombast. Turning out for a country that is yet to play in the World Cup, Chhetri featuring in a series by the world football governing body is unprecedented by any stretch of imagination. "Some of the parts have been shot in Bangalore as he is living there while a bit of shooting also took place in Delhi, where his parents live and where he grew up," a source aware of the development told PTI on Friday.

"It's part of FIFA's regional content initiative which they have launched. So globally when one talks of Indian football, Sunil, without a doubt, is the contact point. You would go to him, right," an Indian football insider added.

In something that normally doesn't happen, Chhetri also received a congratulatory message from top English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur for equalling Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas' tally of 84 international goals. By scoring India's second goal in their final AFC Asian Cup Qualifying game against Afghanistan on Tuesday, Chhetri drew level with Puskas while becoming the fifth-highest international goal scorer of all time. He now stands just two goals behind Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi's tally of 86 goals.

The 37-year-old Chhetri is the third-highest goal scorer in international football among active players, a list that is led by Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo has so far scored 117 goals for the national team. In an illustrious career, Chhetri has represented the Indian team in 129 games so far.