Sunil Chhetri- The Legend, Indian Football Captain Announces Retirement

Chhetri, who made his debut in 2005, has scored 94 goals for the country. He will leave the scene as India’s all-time top scorer and most-capped player. He is also third in the list of goal scorers among active players behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Indian Soccer’s captain, Sunil Chhetri, who has popularised Indian football at an international level has given a rude shock to the football-mad Indians as he retires from international football. On Thursday, Chhetri, a star player and captain of the Indian football team, announced that he will retire from the Blue Tigers and play the final game of his international career against Kuwait in the World Cup qualifier on June 6th.

Chhetri announced his retirement saying, “The match Against Kuwait is the Last,” at the ages of 39 he has really made Sunil Chhetri proud.

21 year old, Chhetri had signed his 150th cap for India in March and also scored for the country on the occasion against Afghanistan in Guwahati. India playing in the match, however, they were defeated that match 1-2.

Chhetri’s retirement is one of the biggest sadness that will remain in my lifetime. He is no ordinary player; rather he is India in the FIFA world and Indian football evolving into an international football competition entity. His duration of service amounts to over 17 years of having worked in this company, which is a great achievement any organization would wish for him.

The 35-year-old Chhetri was born in Darjeeling in 1984, but his passion for football started from an early age. It was clear to people from the onset that this man was destined for stardom and so his ascendancy in the Indian football leagues was undisputed. He made his debut in the national team wearing the green and white jersey for the first time in 2005 and soon became an indispensable member of the team.

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Chhetri’s impact goes far beyond mere statistics, though his numbers are nothing short of phenomenal. He is currently the second-highest international goalscorer amongst active players, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo, and holds the record for the third-highest number of goals scored for his country. These figures stand as a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence and his unwavering desire to see Indian football reach new heights.

I do not think there can be a more accurate representation of Chhetri’s contribution to the Indian football than the numbers he has registered on the field, which is still a small picture of the giant that Chhetri has grown into. He is among the most active players in terms of goalscoring as an international footballer; he is currently second only to Cristiano Ronaldo and is known to hold the record for the third-highest goalscorer for his country. These statistics are seem as a clear example of passion that he had to offer and his vision to take Indian football to new level.

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Chhetri’s achievements have been duly recognized. He is a six-time recipient of the prestigious AIFF Player of the Year award, the highest honor bestowed upon an Indian footballer. In 2019, he was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, for his exceptional contributions to the sport.

While his absence from the international stage will undoubtedly leave a void, Chhetri’s impact on Indian football will resonate for years to come.

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