India’s highest goal scorer Sunil Chhetri hangs up boots after an illustrious international career, putting his names up with the likes of Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugese mega star Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of active international goal scoring record.
Chhetri, 39, took to social media today to announce his retirement from International aootball after 19 years. India’s World Cup Qualifiers clash against Kuwait on June 6, 2024 will bring an end to his remarkable International career. “One last game… for all our sakes… let’s win the game and we can depart, happily,” he said in 9 minute 51 second long video reminiscing his days representing India, talking about the highs and lows of his career and the teamates, coaches and support he had at the start of his career.
Over the last 19 years, Sunil Chhetri has made more appearances and scored more goals than anyone else for India. Making his debut for The Blue Tigers against arch-rivals Pakistan in June, 2005 and going on to score the first of his 94 international goals.
August 29, 2007 saw Chhetri get his hands on the first piece of silverware with the Blue Tigers, as India beat Syria at the Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi to win their first Nehru Cup. Sunil Chhetri ended the tournament as joint runner-up in the golden boot race, netting four goals throughout the tournament. He later went on to win the Nehru Cup on two more occasions, in 2009 and 2012.
Chhetri produced one of his finest performances in Indian colours during the final of AFC Challenge Cup against Tajikistan when he scored the first of his 4 International hattricks, making him the only Indian player to score a hattrick in the final of an International Tournament.
He also won four SAFF titles with India, scoring in the finals in three out of four occasions. Chhetri also made a habit of marking milestone games as he found the back of the net at least once in his first, 25th, 50th, 75th, 100th, 125th and 150th matches.
It was during the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers he was sworn the captain’s armband succeeding the iconic Bhaichung Bhutia.
Chhetri’s accolades and honours are immense out of which, the highest would be the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award conferred by the former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind in 2021, making him the only footballer to win the nation’s highest award for sporting achievement. Furthermore, he recieved the Arjuna Award in 2011, the Padma Shri Award in 2019.
Some more individual awards he achieved are:
- AIFF Player of the Year in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019
- FPAI Player of the Year in 2009 and 2018
- SAFF Player of the Tournament in 2011
- AFC Challenge Cup MVP in 2008
Sunil Chettri, after 150 games in which he was the captain in 87, and 94 goals to his name will bow out after his 151st game against Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
