Sunil Chhetri announces retirement from international football after FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait

Chhetri, who made his debut in 2005, has scored 94 goals for the country.

Indian men's football team captain Sunil Chhetri said on Thursday that the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait on June 6 will be his last appearance in national colours.

The 39-year-old striker announced his decision to retire from international football over a video on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

I'd like to say something... pic.twitter.com/xwXbDi95WV

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— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) May 16, 2024

"The feel that I recollect in the last 19 years is a very nice combination of duty, pressure and immense joy," the Bengaluru FC striker said in the video.

Chhetri admitted in the video that the qualifier against Kuwait was "hugely important" for India, but added that he wasn't feeling too much pressure, considering it would be his swansong in Indian colours.

"Every training that I do with the national team, I just want to enjoy. The game against Kuwait demands pressure, we need the three points to qualify for the next round. It’s hugely important for us."

"But in a strange way, I don’t feel the pressure because these 15-20 days with the national team and the match against Kuwait is the last," the striker said.

Chhetri made his senior India debut in a friendly against Pakistan in 2005 at Quetta and was named India captain in 2010. He led the team to victories at the 2012 Nehru Cup, as well as four SAFF Championships wins in 2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023.

The striker is fourth on the list of most goals scored in international football, having hit theback of the net on 94 occasions in 150 appearances, with only Lionel Messi (106 goals), Ali Daei (108 goals) and Cristiano Ronaldo (128 goals), ahead of him.