May 16th 2024.
New Delhi: After a long and illustrious career, Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri has announced that he will be retiring from international football after the country's FIFA World Cup qualification match against Kuwait on June 6. The 39-year-old striker shared the news through a heartfelt video on his social media accounts.
In the emotional video, Chhetri reminisced about his first game for his country and how it was an unforgettable experience. He fondly remembered his first national team coach, Sukhi sir, who had given him the opportunity to start in the game. Chhetri shared that he was feeling a mix of nerves and excitement and even sprayed some perfume on his jersey before the game, for good luck.
Looking back on his 19-year journey with the national team, Chhetri described it as a combination of duty, pressure, and immense joy. He never imagined that he would go on to play so many games for his country, but now that he has, he feels proud and accomplished. As he reflected on his career, Chhetri revealed that he had been considering retiring for the past one and a half to two months and had finally made the decision that the upcoming match would be his last.
As he shared the news with his family, Chhetri's mother and wife were overwhelmed with emotions and burst into tears. He explained that they had always been worried about the pressure and demands of playing for the national team, and now that he had decided to retire, they couldn't contain their emotions. Chhetri also shared that it wasn't because he was feeling tired or burnt out, but rather, it was a decision that he had thought long and hard about and ultimately felt was the right one for him.
Chhetri, who made his international debut against Pakistan in 2005, has been an integral part of many title-winning Indian teams, such as the AFC Challenge Cup, SAFF Championship, Nehru Cup, and Intercontinental Cup. He also holds the impressive record of being the third-highest scorer in international games, with 94 goals in 150 matches, only behind football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
As he prepares for his final game, Chhetri is filled with a mix of emotions, but ultimately, he is grateful and proud of the journey he has had with the Indian national team. He hopes to end his international career on a high note and continue to support and inspire the future generations of Indian footballers.
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