Sunil Chhetri’s stellar career with the Indian National football team comes to an end. The 151st match of the player was understandably a poignant moment among passionate fans.
On June 06, at Salt Lake Stadium, Chhetri made his last appearance in the India vs Kuwait in FIFA World Cup/AFC qualifiers. Held to a goalless draw by Kuwait, it handed the hosts a major setback to qualify for the third round.
Chhetri has won the prestigious All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player of the Year title a total of seven times. He is also the first footballer to win the Khel Ratna, the country’s highest award for sports.
Sunil Chhetri Last Match
About his last match against Kuwait, Sunil Chhetri expressed his sentiment as, “One last game…and we can depart happily.”
While announcing his retirement on X (formerly called Twitter), Sunil Chhetri said,
“And the moment I told myself first, that yes, this is going to be my last game is when I started recollecting everything…So when I decided this is it, this is going to be my last game.”
And talking about the mindset he was in while thinking about his last game, Chhetri reminisced,
“The recollection of the last 19 years is a combination of duty, pressure and immense joy. I never thought that these are the many games I would play for the country, good or bad but now I did but these last one and half two months I did. And this (the feeling) was very strange. I was probably going towards the decision that this game (against Kuwait) is going to be my last,”
Remarkably 58,291 was the official attendance of the crowd gathered for the departing legend, who will be leaving a void in the Indian football.
The Indian national team paid homage to the veteran footballer who played as one of the finest players for the Blue Tigers.
With 94 goals, Chhetri leaves as the fourth-highest goal scorer in international football, only behind the GOATs of football-Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Sunil Chhetri immersed in overwhelming emotions thanked the fans and soak up the atmosphere. The 39-year-old did a lap of the stadium as he was given a guard of honor. The moment turned him emotional and tears were shed.
Last month, Sunil Chhetri announced his retirement on a video posted on X, and said,
“I’m going to miss everything about it…having one agenda, sitting, training, dining…wearing the jersey…”
Chhetri captured the millions hearts before reaching the pinnacle. In the commemorating ceremony, leaving indelible legacy behind him, he expressed the gratitude,
“The ones who have watched in videos, the ones who have taken autographs, the ones.. the old-time supporters, thank you everyone. These 19 years would not have been possible without each and everyone of you and I genuinely mean it.“
And with that India’s International footballer left a legacy for the next generation of country’s footballers to follow.
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Tabinda Mir is a writer from Kashmir. She is an English Honours graduate and her interests primarily dwell in poetry and sports writing. She likes to cover Cricket as an avid fan. Apart from sports, her other publications include articles, poems and a letter to summer in the book titled, “Under The Summer Skies”.
Also, her leisure time activities include reading novels, poetry, non literary works, philosophies and writing poetry, short stories, articles on diverse themes.
