End of an era: Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri announces retirement, Worldcup qualifier against Kuwait to be his last dance

Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has announced his retirement from international football, with his final match set to be the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6.

The 39-year-old captain, who shared his decision via a video on social media, has led India's national team for nearly two decades. Currently, India stands second in Group A with four points, trailing behind leaders Qatar. 

Reflecting on his 19-year career, Chhetri expressed a mix of duty, pressure, and immense joy, noting that he had not previously considered his individual achievements until recently.

 As he approached this decision over the past couple of months, he began to reminisce about his journey and concluded that the upcoming match would be his last. Despite the high stakes of the game against Kuwait, which India needs to win to advance to the next round, Chhetri feels a sense of calm and aims to enjoy his final days with the national team.

Chhetri, who made his debut in 2005, will retire as India's all-time top scorer with 94 goals and the most-capped player in the country's history. He recently marked his 150th appearance for India by scoring against Afghanistan, although India lost that match 1-2.

Chhetri is also notable for being third among active international goal scorers, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, cementing his legacy as a true icon of Indian football.