Farewell: Indian Football Legend Sunil Chhetri Retires from International Stage after Glorious Career

Chhetri has made 365 club appearances in his career, scoring an impressive total of 158 goals. He made his international debut for India in 2005 and scored his first goal, marking the beginning of his successful journey. One of the highlights of his career was in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, where his hat-trick against Tajikistan not only secured India's qualification for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup but also catapulted Chhetri to fame.

Chhetri also had stints abroad, playing for the USA's Major League Soccer club Kansas City Wizards in 2010 and Portuguese club Sporting CP in 2012-13. These experiences helped refine his game and made him a more versatile striker.

As the captain of the Indian national team, Chhetri's leadership skills shone brightly. Under his captaincy, India experienced what is now regarded as the golden era of modern football in the country, winning multiple SAFF Championships and Intercontinental Cups. One of his defining moments came during the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, where he used social media to appeal for greater fan support, successfully bringing thousands to the stadium and boosting interest in Indian football.

Chhetri has scored 94 goals in 150 international matches, making him the fourth-highest scorer in international football. He is only behind legends like Lionel Messi (106 goals in 180 matches) and Cristiano Ronaldo (128 goals in 205 matches).In his club career, Chhetri won numerous accolades, including the I-League (2009-10 with Dempo and 2012-13 with Churchill Brothers), as well as multiple titles with Bengaluru FC, including the I-League (2013-14, 2015-16), Indian Super League (2018-19), Federation Cup (2014-15, 2016-17), Super Cup (2018), and Durand Cup (2022).

Chhetri has also been honoured with the prestigious All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player of the Year title seven times (2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018-19, 2021-22) and the FPAI Indian Player of the Year award three times (2009, 2018, 2019). He has received the Arjuna Award (2011) and the Khel Ratna Award (2021), India's highest sporting honor. Under his leadership, India reached the top 100 in the FIFA rankings for the first time in 2023 since 2018, and Chhetri's dream of seeing India compete in the FIFA World Cup inspired millions of fans.

Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

Chhetri's journey is not just that of a football star but also an inspiration for the next generation, proving what can be achieved with relentless dedication and hard work.

Advertisement

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)