Kohli is proud of Chhetri's retirement decision; AIFF and BCCI praise his impressive career.

New Delhi: The news of India's football captain Sunil Chhetri's retirement after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 match against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6 has left the nation in awe. Chhetri, who has represented the Blue Tigers for 19 years, announced his decision on social media on Thursday.

Fellow sports star and Indian cricketer Virat Kohli expressed his pride and support for Chhetri's decision, commenting on the striker's Instagram post with, "My brother. Proud." Chhetri, who is 39 years old, is considered one of the most decorated footballers in India, with an impressive record of 94 goals in 145 matches for the country. He is also an inspirational figure for many young athletes in the country, with his legacy on and off the field being remembered for years to come.

In fact, among active football players across the globe, Chhetri is the third-highest goal-scorer, following only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina's Lionel Messi. The official handle of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the governing body of the sport in the country, also extended their heartfelt wishes to Chhetri for his contributions to the team. "Your legacy on and off-the-field will always be remembered! You have always been and will continue to inspire us. Thank you @chetrisunil11 for your leadership, dedication and commitment to Indian football. Captain. Leader. Legend," the AIFF posted on Twitter.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also acknowledged Chhetri's remarkable career, calling it "extraordinary" for the nation. "Your career has been nothing short of extraordinary and you have been a phenomenal icon for Indian football and Indian sports. Go well, Captain!" the BCCI wrote on Twitter.

Even Chhetri's Indian Super League franchise Bengaluru FC and Kohli's Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bangalore joined in to wish the ace forward. "The phases, the faces, the eras and battles - he's been the one constant through it all. He's going to do it one last time, and we can never be grateful enough for the giant that walked amongst men," Bengaluru FC wrote on Twitter. RCB also joined in with a heartfelt tribute, saying, "India Football captain Sunil Chhetri to retire on June 6. What a ride this has been, skipper! 94 international goals, so many laurels, an unbroken conviction and you've inspired so many young Indians to dream big. Happy farewell to the No.11 but India's #1, Sunil Chhetri."

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