Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri announces retirement from International Football

Kolkata, May 16: In a significant development for Indian football, veteran player Sunil Chhetri declared his decision to retire from international football after the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6. This announcement marks the end of an illustrious two-decade-long career for the renowned athlete.

The announcement came through a video posted on Chhetri's social media accounts, where the long-serving national team captain expressed his decision. Currently, India holds the second position in Group A, with four points, trailing behind the group leaders, Qatar.

"The match against Kuwait will mark the end," stated the 39-year-old Chhetri, confirming his retirement plans.

Chhetri recently achieved a milestone by playing his 150th match for India in March, where he also scored against Afghanistan in Guwahati. Despite his contribution, India faced defeat in that match with a score of 1-2.

Having debuted in 2005, Chhetri leaves behind a remarkable legacy, having scored an impressive tally of 94 goals for his country. As India's all-time top scorer and most-capped player, he holds a significant place in the history of Indian football. Additionally, he ranks third among active players worldwide in terms of goal scoring, following behind football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.