Sunil Chhetri Announces Retirement: One Last Dance Against Kuwait, India Football Icon Draws Curtain on International Career (Watch Video)
Chhetri helped India win the 2007, 2009, and 2012 Nehru Cup, as well as the 2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023 SAFF Championship. He also led India to victory in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which helped India qualify for its first AFC Asian Cup in 27 years.
Sunil Chhetri, a player who redefined the standards of Indian football, emerged as an inspiration not only for his nation but also in the international circuit, on Thursday decided to draw the curtains on his career with the Blue Tigers. Sunil Chhetri kicked off his professional football journey at Mohun Bagan in 2002. Chhetri helped India win the 2007, 2009, and 2012 Nehru Cup, as well as the 2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023 SAFF Championship. He also led India to victory in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which helped India qualify for its first AFC Asian Cup in 27 years. AIFF's Development Committee Holds Virtual Meeting Chaired by Avijit Paul.
Chhetri took to X to announce his retirement from international football. He will have his last dance in Indian colours in front of the home fans at the Salt Lake Stadium on June 6 against Kuwait. The 39-year-old posted a video on X in which he reminisced about his career which began in 2005 on June 12 against Pakistan in a friendly match.
Sunil Chhetri Announces Retirement
Chhetri received the Arjuna Award in 2011, and the Padma Shri in 2019. In 2021, he became the first footballer to get the Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honour.
In a career that spanned over 19 years, the Arjuna Award winner has 94 goals in 150 matches on the international stage. The most-capped Indian footballer is the third-highest goal-scorer on the global stage with icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi ahead of him.
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