Sunil Chhetri Announces RETIREMENT, India Football Captain to Play His Last Game vs Kuwait in Kolkata
Chhetri, who is India's highest goal-scorer of all time, would play his final game against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6.
Kolkata: One of India’s greatest footballers of all time, Sunil Chhetri has decided to call it a day. Chhetri, who is India’s highest goal-scorer of all time, would play his final game against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6. Chhetri made his decision public via social media. In the nine-minute clip, Chhetri got emotional while speaking.
The 40-year-old striker made his international debut against Pakistan in 2005. He scored his maiden goal for India in that match itself. His illustrious career that spanned nearly two decades.
I’d like to say something… pic.twitter.com/xwXbDi95WV
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) May 16, 2024
“The feel that I recollect in the last 19 years is a very nice combination of duty, pressure and immense joy,” Chhetri said in the video message.
“I never thought individually these are the games I’ve played for the country, this is what I’ve done good, I’ve done bad. But, now I did it, this last one-and-a-half two months. It felt very strange,” he said. “I did it because I was going towards the decision that the next game was going to be my last.”
“Every training that I do with the national team, I just want to enjoy. The game against Kuwait demands pressure, we need the three points to qualify for the next round. It’s hugely important for us,” the skipper said.
As of now, Chhetri, who happens to also be the most capped Indian footballer, stands tall with third most international goals (94 in 150 matches) among the currently active players , behind Argentine legend Lionel Messi (106 in 180 matches) at number two and the leader Cristiano Ronaldo (128 in 205 matches), the legend from Portugal.
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