Indian football icon, Sunil Chhetri has declared to hang up his boots. He would be playing his last fixture in the national colours in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier against Kuwait on June 06th, 2024. The team’s captain, who has been with them for a long time, shared his decision in a video on his social media.
CHHETRI’S RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
“The feel that I recollect in the last 19 years is a very nice combination of duty, pressure and immense joy,” the 39-year-old Chhetri said while announcing his decision to retire. Let’s quickly go through a couple of records and achievements in his 19 year illustrious career.
Chhetri ranks third on the chart of the top goal scorers in the world. He’s just behind Messi and Ronaldo. He scored a hat-trick against Pakistan and moved up to fourth place in the list of all-time top scorers in international soccer, passing Mokhtar Dahari. He scored 15 of his 90 goals from penalty kicks, with Nepal and Maldives being his favourite opponents.
Chhetri started his international career in 2005 with a goal against Pakistan and became the first Indian player to be among the top 10 international goal scorers.
He played for several clubs like Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mumbai City FC, scoring over 140 goals. Though he briefly played for clubs abroad like the Kansas City Wizards and Sporting Club Portugal, he’s mostly known for his time at Bengaluru FC. He’s won many awards and trophies during his career.
Here’s Sunil Chhetri’s International Goals Tournament-Wise.
| TOURNAMENT | APPEARANCES | GOALS |
| SAFF Championship | 27 | 23 |
| Friendlies | 40 | 19 |
| Intercontinental Cup (Friendly League) | 11 | 13 |
| FIFA World Cup Qualifiers | 23 | 10 |
| Nehru Cup (Friendly League) | 14 | 9 |
| AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers | 12 | 8 |
| AFC Challenge Cup | 8 | 4 |
| AFC Asian Cup | 5 | 4 |
| AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers | 6 | 3 |
| King’s Cup (Friendly League) | 1 | 1 |
| Asian Games | 2 | 1 |
Chhetri doesn’t just score against weaker teams; he’s also scored against tough opponents like Kenya, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Afghanistan. His goals often come in important matches, helping India win or get important points.
Here’s a list of Sunil Chhetri’s Appearances and Goals Against Different Opponents
| OPPONENTS | APPEARANCES | GOALS |
| Maldives | 6 | 8 |
| Nepal | 13 | 9 |
| Chinese Taipei | 5 | 6 |
| Bangladesh | 7 | 7 |
| Cambodia | 3 | 5 |
| Tajikistan | 5 | 5 |
| Kenya | 2 | 4 |
| Kyrgyz Republic | 4 | 4 |
| Pakistan | 7 | 4 |
| Afghanistan | 10 | 5 |
| Mayanmar | 5 | 3 |
| Bhutan | 2 | 3 |
| Vietnam | 2 | 3 |
| Guam | 3 | 3 |
| Lebanon | 6 | 3 |
| Syria | 6 | 2 |
| Malaysia | 4 | 3 |
| Oman | 5 | 2 |
| Thailand | 3 | 2 |
| Sri Lanka | 3 | 1 |
| Bahrain | 2 | 1 |
| South Korea | 1 | 1 |
| Cameroon | 1 | 1 |
| Philippines | 2 | 1 |
| Palestine | 2 | 1 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 1 |
| Macao | 2 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 1 |
| Curacao | 1 | 1 |
| Hong Kong | 1 | 1 |
| Vanuatu | 1 | 1 |
| South Korea | 1 | 1 |
| Kuwait | 2 | 1 |
Chhetri’s goal scoring ability shows how good he is and how long he’s been playing for India. He’s been scoring regularly for many years against different teams, which proves how vital he is to the national team and how he’s one of India’s best players ever.
Throughout his career, Chhetri has won many top awards:
– Arjuna Award – 2011
– Padma Shri Award – 2019.
– Khel Ratna Award – 2021.
– AIFF Player of the Year Award – 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018-19.
– FPAI Indian Player of the Year – 2009, 2018, and 2019.
– SAFF Championship Player of the Tournament – 2011, 2015, and 2021.
– SAFF Championship Top Scorer – 2011, 2021, and 2023.
– Hero of the Intercontinental Cup – 2018
Sunil Chhetri’s success in international football has not only made him popular in India but also gained him respect globally. As he chooses to retire from international matches, his reputation as a top goal-scorer and a role model for young Indian footballers remains strong. His path from a promising young player to the captain of the national team and its top scorer is a tale of determination, dedication, and exceptional talent.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye.
