Sunil Chhetri Announces Retirement from International Football After FIFA World Cup Qualifier

New Delhi, 16th May 2024: On Thursday, Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri shared a heartfelt announcement regarding his retirement from international football after the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6. Bringing a close to his illustrious two-decade career, the long-serving national team captain conveyed his decision through a video on his social media platforms.

Reflecting on his remarkable journey spanning 19 years, Chhetri expressed a blend of duty, pressure, and profound joy. He admitted to a sense of strangeness as he approached this milestone, realizing that each game leading up to this point was a part of his final stretch with the national team.

Despite the significance of the upcoming match against Kuwait in securing qualification points, Chhetri shared his mindset of simply savoring every moment on the field. While acknowledging the importance of the game, he confessed to feeling an unusual sense of calmness, knowing that this chapter of his career was drawing to a close.

Chhetri, who reached the milestone of 150 appearances for India in March, emphasized his dedication by scoring in that match against Afghanistan, despite India’s eventual defeat. With an impressive tally of 94 goals for his country, he leaves behind a legacy as India’s top scorer and most-capped player. Additionally, he stands as the third-highest active goal scorer globally, trailing only behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.