Sunil Chhetri - soccer icon bids adieu to Indian football : Career highlights with video

 


Indian football icon and national team captain, Sunil Chhetri, has announced his retirement from international football,  effective June 6.


In a video posted on X, Chhetri revealed that India's World Cup qualification match against Kuwait would be his final game.



 "One last game... for all our sakes... let's win the game and we can depart, happily," he stated.



Chhetri, 39, has represented India for 19 years, scoring his first goal in his debut match in 2005. He is one of the country's most celebrated players, bringing significant attention to Indian football in a cricket-dominated nation.


Currently, Chhetri is the third-highest scorer of international goals among active footballers, following Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.


In the nine-minute-51-second video, Chhetri reflected on his career's highs and lows and expressed sadness over his decision. "The kid inside will probably keep fighting to play football, but the sensible, mature player and person knows that this is it," he said. "But it wasn't easy," he added.


Tributes have poured in on X, with fans expressing their profound respects & universally agreeing that Chhetri will remain as one of the greats in Indian football. 



Fans and experts attribute Chhetri's success to his longevity in international football and his exceptional work ethic. In India, he has received numerous accolades, including the Arjuna Award, the country's second-highest sporting honor, and the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award.


On the global stage, he has led India to victories in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup, the South Asian Football Federation Championship, the Intercontinental Cup, and more.


Career achievements 


Sunil Chhetri's glittering career achievements are numerous and have significantly impacted Indian football. Here are some of his notable accomplishments:


 International Achievements

1. **Third-Highest International Goal Scorer (Active)**: Chhetri is the third-highest goal scorer in international football among active players, following Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

2. **Most Goals for India**: He is India's top scorer in international matches.

3. **Most Appearances for India**: Chhetri holds the record for the most appearances for the Indian national team.

4. **AFC Challenge Cup**: Led India to victory in 2008.

5. **SAFF Championship**: Helped India win the South Asian Football Federation Championship multiple times (2011, 2015, 2021).

6. **Intercontinental Cup**: Guided the team to win the Intercontinental Cup in 2018 and 2019.


 Club Achievements

1. **I-League Titles**: Won multiple I-League titles with Bengaluru FC and Dempo SC.

2. **Indian Super League (ISL)**: Key player for Bengaluru FC, leading them to win the ISL in 2018-2019.

3. **Domestic Cups**: Won Federation Cup titles with Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan.


Individual Honours

1. **AIFF Player of the Year**: Awarded seven times (2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019).

2. **Arjuna Award**: Received in 2011, recognizing his outstanding achievements in Indian sports.

3. **Padma Shri**: Awarded in 2019, India’s fourth-highest civilian award.

4. **Hero of the League (ISL)**: Named the best player in the ISL for the 2017-2018 season.

5. **Golden Boot Winner**: Top scorer in multiple domestic seasons.


Other Notable Achievements

1. **International Recognition**: Named among the AFC Asian Icons by the Asian Football Confederation in 2018.

2. **Global Exposure**: Played for foreign clubs such as Sporting Kansas City in the Major League Soccer (MLS) and Sporting CP B in Portugal.

3. **Contribution to Indian Football**: Widely credited with elevating the profile of Indian football both domestically and internationally.


Sunil Chhetri's dedication, skill, and leadership have made him an enduring figure in Indian football, inspiring countless young players and leaving a lasting legacy.

In the below video  watch some of Chhetri's best goals . 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Olympics24 : Julien Alfred of St Lucia becomes fastest woman on earth by winning 100 mtrs

Image
  Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred did wonders to put her country in the Olympics map by beconing the fastest woman on earth . Before the semi-finals, when Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce withdrew, everyone thought Sha'Carri Richardson would easily win the gold. She was expected to become the world's fastest woman. However, Sha'Carri disappointed. St. Lucia's Julien Alfred won the gold in the women's 100 meters at the Olympics, finishing in 10.72 seconds. Sha'Carri secured the silver by finishing second, while America's Melissa Jefferson took bronze. The event was delayed slightly due to rain before the race. Despite the wet track, Julien seemed unaffected. She took the lead right from the start and maintained it until the end. Despite her efforts, Sha'Carri couldn't catch up. Julien set a national record by finishing in 10.72 seconds. Her celebration after winning gold showed how significant this victory was for her and her country. Sha'Car
Read more

Olympics24 : Ten men India edge out Britain in tie breaker to storm into hockey SF

Image
  India reached the Olympic hockey semifinals by defeating Britain in a shootout. The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, leading to a shootout where India won 4-2. India played with ten players for 42 minutes to secure the victory. In the semifinals, India will face the winner of the Germany-Argentina match. A win in Tuesday's match will ensure a silver medal for last time's bronze winners at the Paris Olympics. Following the advice of video umpire , Indian defender Amit Rohidas was shown a red card in the fourth minute of the second quarter for unintentional stick contact with a British player’s head. Video umpire Goyentzen suggested it was intentional, and South African field umpire Sean Rapaport recommended a red card, resulting in India playing the rest of the match with ten players. This is the first red card issued in this Olympic hockey tournament. Despite this, India remained undeterred. Coach Craig Fulton adjusted the strategy after going down to ten players. Captain
Read more

Olympics24 : USA thrives on Steph Curry's late blast to overcome France & win basketball gold, Serbia gets bronze

Image
  For the fifth consecutive time, Team USA secured the gold medal in basketball  at the Olympics by defeating host nation France 98-87 in the championship game of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday. Following a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to overcome Serbia in the semifinals, Team USA faced another challenge as their 11-point lead in the final quarter was narrowed to just three points after a tip-in by Victor Wembanyama with 2:58 remaining. However, Steph Curry rose to the occasion, scoring 12 points in the final 2:48, all from beyond the 3-point line. His clutch performance not only helped the Americans maintain their lead but also extend it to a more comfortable margin, much to the satisfaction of fans back home who held high expectations for their national basketball team. Curry finished the game with 24 points, while Kevin Durant and Devin Booker each contributed 15 points, and LeBron James added 14. With basketball legends like Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant possibly
Read more