‘It’s been a long day without you my friend, and I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again’ – Finally the day has come when the Indian skipper has decided to hang up his boots. Captain, Leader, Legend – Sunil Chhetri has announced his decision to retire from International Football.
Arguably the greatest Indian footballer of modern times to play the game. A man carrying the weight of the entire team on his shoulders define what Sunil Chhetri has done for his country. 150 International caps, the most by an Indian player, speaks volumes of his longevity in the game.
But as all good things come to an end, the fateful day has finally arrived. On a sunny morning of 16th May, Sunil Chhetri took to social media to announce that he would be hanging his boots. Chhetri will have his Last Dance at the iconic Yuba Bharati Stadium when India take on Kuwait in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Second round clash.
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A legacy unparalleled, unmatched!
At the tender age of 21 years, Sunil Chhetri made his debut for the Blue Tigers. 12th June to be precise, Sunil Chhetri made his National Team debut against Pakistan, and went on to score his debut goal at a senior level for the country. This was the start of something beautiful, something brilliant. Today with 150 caps under his belt, he has 94 international goals for the country.
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And this 94 goals tally is not easy. He is ranked 4th in the all time International goal scorer’s list, only behind the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
A journey of almost two decades will finally come to an end on 6th June, 2024. It will be paramount if India can go on to beat Kuwait. In the reverse fixture, India managed a goalless draw. But now the stage is set for Chhetri. One last chance, to score in front of more than 60 thousand erupting spectators.
Plethora of Acolades
It wasn’t easy for Sunil Chhetri to become ‘The Sunil Chhetri’. Starting off an early career in Kolkata, he failed to impress or rather leave an tantamount mark in either of the Kolkata Giants. As is the norm, you become a great player if you shine for either Mohun Bagan or East Bengal. Chhetri is probably the only one who has gone on to scale the top most height without flourishing in Kolkata.
Such has been his impact for the country, that he was adjudged AIFF Player of the Year on 7 occasions. He has been duly awarded for his services after collecting the Arjuna Award, Padma Shri and Khel Ratna awards.
Trophies Won for India
- 1. AFC Challenge Cup: 2008
2. SAFF Championship: 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023; runner-up: 2008, 2013
3. Nehru Cup: 2007, 2009, 2012
4. Intercontinental Cup: 2018, 2023
5. Tri-Nation Series: 2023
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