Sunil Chhetri: Indian football icon announces retirement from sport

image credit : Goal.com

Sunil Chhetri, India's football hero and national team captain, has announced his retirement from international football on June 6.

image credit : FIFA Football Gaming wiki

In a video shared on X, he stated that India's World Cup qualifier against Kuwait will be his final game.

image credit : FIFA Football Gaming wiki

"One last game... for all our sakes...let's win the game and we can depart, happily," he stated in the video.

image credit :The Indian Express

Chhetri, 39, has been a national team player for 19 years, scoring his first goal on debut in 2005.

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He is one of the country's most recognized players, credited for bringing Indian football to national and international prominence in an otherwise cricket-centric society.

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He currently holds the record for being the third-highest scorer of international goals among active footballers, following Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

image credit : Tribune India

In the nine-minute-51-second video post on X, Chhetri reflected on the highs and lows of his lengthy career and expressed sadness about his decision.

image credit : x.com

In India, he has received several football honors, including the Arjuna Award, the country's second-highest athletic honor, and the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award.

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On a worldwide scale, he has guided his side to victories in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup, the South Asian Football Federation Championship, the Intercontinental Cup, and others.

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In a recent interview with the BBC, Chhetri, who is known for his stringent diet and fitness routine, discussed the "small sacrifices" he makes.

image credit : x.com