New Delhi, May 17: Indian soccer icon Sunil Chhetri has announced his retirement. He will be playing his last international match on June 6 in Kolkata, when he appears for the last time in an Indian jersey in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Kuwait.
Soccer experts, football associations, cubs, leagues have paid tribute to Chhetri's contributions to the game football. La Liga also paid tribute to Chhetri by terming him 'all time great'.
La Liga's official Instagram handle shared a tribute post for Chhetri with a captain, "An All Time Great! An Indian Legend!"
It is worth mentioning that La Liga is controlled by the LFP and is contested by 20 teams over a 38-matchday period. Since its inception, 62 teams have competed in La Liga. Nine teams have been crowned champions, with Barcelona winning the inaugural La Liga and Real Madrid winning the title a record 36 times.
It can be recalled that Chhetri stands tall with the third most international goals (94 in 150 matches) among the currently active players, only behind Leonel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
He is also the most capped Indian footballer and has received the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri Award from the Indian government. On the international stage, Chhetri has been part of the title-winning Indian team in the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008, the SAFF Championship in 2011 and 2015, the Nehru Cup in 2007, 2009 and 2012, and the Intercontinental Cup in 2017 and 2018. (With IANS support)
