Sunil Chhetri Announces Retirement

Summary: Sunil Chhetri announced his retirement on his official social media channels, with a 10-minute long video.

Star Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri announced his retirement from international football with a 10-minute video on his Instagram handle. He mentioned that the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifier game against Kuwait would be his last game, which is on June 6, 2024, in Kolkata.

Chhetri said, “Looking back at the past 19 years is a mix of duty, stress, and extreme happiness. I never would have imagined that I was going to play so many games for my country, whether they were good or bad, but during the past two and a half months, I did. And that was quite an odd feeling. I think I was leaning toward deciding that this match (against Kuwait) would be my last.”

When Indian football champion Sunil Chhetri announced his retirement after a historic 19-year international career, many notable figures in the world of sports came out to praise and celebrate the face of Indian football.

With Sunil Chhetri's official confirmation that he will play his final game for India against Kuwait on June 6, several boards, teams, and players have stepped forward to pay tribute to the Indian captain's remarkable career. 

The FIFA World Cup official Twitter also paid respect to Chhetri, posting an iconic shot of him standing on a platform with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, representing the top three current international goal scorers.

FIFA World Cup official account on X (formerly Twitter) said, "Sunil Chhetri, the world's third-highest international goalscorer, will play his final game for Indian Football in next month's FIFA World Cup qualifiers,"

Virat Kohli, an Indian cricket legend and Chhetri's friend, also commented on the footballer's Instagram video, expressing his admiration. He said, "My brother, PROUD."