Sunil Chhetri, India's most decorated footballer, has announced his retirement from international football. As per the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Chhetri, 39, made the announcement through a video on social media platform X, mentioning that India's upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifier game against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6 will be his last.
"The recollection of the last 19 years is a combination of duty, pressure and immense joy. I never thought that these are the many games I would play for the country, good or bad but now I did but these last one and half two months I did. And this (the feeling) was very strange. I was probably going towards the decision that this game (against Kuwait) is going to be my last," Chhetri said.
Sunil Chhetri Retirement Speech
I'd like to say something... pic.twitter.com/xwXbDi95WV
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) May 16, 2024
8 Interesting Facts About Sunil Chhetri
Second Highest Goal-scorer in Asia
According to the AIFF, "India captain Sunil Chhetri is the second-highest goal-scorer in Asia." Chhetri's tally is now a total of 90 goals from 138 matches. Only former Iran footballer Ali Daei from the Asian region has more goals with 109 strikes in 148 matches.
Fourth Highest International Goal-scorer
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The AIFF states, "The Indian captain has recently surpassed Mokhtar Dahari of Malaysia (with 89 goals) to climb to the fourth spot among the highest goal-scorers in international football." Argentina's Lionel Messi (103 goals), Iran's retired player Ali Daei (109 goals), and legendary Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo (123) are only ahead of Chhetri in the goal-scoring list.
Third Most Goals Among Active International Players
As per the AIFF, "Among the active players, Chhetri has the third-most goals by an international footballer." Only Messi (103 goals) and Cristiano Ronaldo (123 goals) are ahead of the Indian captain.
Record AIFF Awards
The AIFF states, "Chhetri has also broken a record for the most AIFF Player of the Year awards won by an Indian football player." He has won the award a total of seven times - in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2022.
First Footballer to Get Khel Ratna Award
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According to the AIFF, "In 2021, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports awarded Chhetri the highest sporting honour in India - the Khel Ratna Award." He became the first football player to have ever received this prestigious award.
Almost Made it to an English Football Club
The AIFF states, "Chhetri signed a three-year contract with the English League Championship side Queens Park Rangers in 2009. However, the dream could not materialise as Chhetri was denied a work permit by the British government because India was not in the top 70 of the FIFA World Rankings."
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First Indian to Play Major League Soccer
As per the AIFF, "Chhetri finally got his chance when he was signed for the American club Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer." That made Chhetri the first Indian to play in the league.
Asian Icon
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The AIFF mentions, "In 2018, the Asian Football Federation, the continental governing body of football in Asia, awarded the title of 'Asian Icon' to Chhetri to commemorate his 34th birthday."
With Chhetri's retirement, Indian football is set to turn a new page, but his legacy as one of the greatest footballers the country has ever produced will remain etched in history.
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