Sunil Chhetri, India's football stalwart, calls time on stellar international career
India’s iconic footballer Sunil Chhetri has decided to call time on his stellar international career. The veteran footballer has announced that the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualification match between India and Kuwait will be his last international appearance.
Chhetri is India’s leading goal-scorer in the history of the sport. The 39-year-old has found the back of the net 94 times while representing the Blue Tigers on the international stage. Chhetri is also the most capped Indian player. He has donned the India jersey for a staggering 150 times.
Bhaichung Bhutia is the second-most capped Indian footballer with 88 international appearances.
Notably, Chhetri is the fourth-leading goal-scorer in the history of international men’s football. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time leading goal-scorer with 128 goals followed by Iran’s Ali Daei who has scored 108 goals in 148 international matches.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi is the third-leading goal-scorer with 106 goals in 180 international appearances.
The Secunderabad-born (Andhra Pradesh) made his debut for the Indian senior men’s football team in 2007. He scored two goals as India routed Cambodia by a staggering margin of 6-0. Chhetri plays for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL).
He has won several prestigious awards in his storied career with the AIFF Player of the Year award (six times), Padma Shri and the Arjuna award among others.
Chhetri’s tenure with the Indian team has brought innumerable moments of joy for the football fans in the country. Nehru Cup (2007, 2009 and 2012), AFC Challenge Cup (2008), SAFF Championship (2011 and 2015) and Intercontinental Cup (2017 and 2018) are some of the memorable wins that came India’s way and Chhetri played an integral part in them.
Meanwhile, India are currently second on the points table in Group A behind Qatar in the FIFA World Cup Qualification standings. The Blue Tigers have four points to their credit. They will take on Kuwait on June 6 at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata.