Indian Football Hero Sunil Chhetri Retires:
Sunil Chhetri, India's celebrated football captain, has decided to hang up his boots internationally after the forthcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait. He announced on Thursday, May 16, that his last match in blue will be on June 6th, post the qualifying game against Kuwait.
At the age of 39, Chhetri, who began his illustrious career in 2005, marked his 150th cap for India in March against Afghanistan in Guwahati. Notably, he scored a goal in that match, though India eventually lost 1-2.
Chhetri took to social media platform 'X' to announce his retirement through a video message. A striker of immense calibre, Sunil Chhetri has led India to numerous significant victories. With a 20-year career, he has played 150 matches for India and scored an impressive 94 goals as of March 26.
Sunil expressed in his 9 minute 51-second retirement video the difficult decision of his departure from the game he adores. He shared reflective thoughts through that video on 'X', stating his desire to convey an important message.
Sunil Chhetri gets emotional in retirement video
During the emotional farewell video, Chhetri reminisced about his debut match and paid homage to his first national team coach, Sukhi sir, who gave him the nod to start his international journey—a moment he will treasure forever. He recounted the indescribable feeling of scoring his first goal then and wearing the national team jersey, an experience he deems unforgettable.
In the video, Chhetri said, 'Over these 19 years, what I remember most is the delicate balance of duty, pressure, and immense joy. I never personally thought this game would be what I played for my country. Every training session with the national team has been a source of enjoyment for me.'
Source: aajtak
The game against Kuwait comes packed with pressure, as we need three points to qualify for the next round; it is crucial for us. Chhetri hinted that it's time for the next generation to take over the 'number nine' jersey of the Indian team.
Sunil Chhetri ranks fourth for the most international goals in football history. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo leads with 128 goals in 206 matches, followed by Iran's Ali Daei who scored 108 goals in 148 matches.
Argentina's captain, Lionel Messi, with 106 goals in 180 matches, is third, and interestingly, the only two active players ahead of Chhetri are none other than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Additionally, Chhetri is the second-highest goal scorer in international football from Asia, following Iran's Ali Daei.
