Sunil Chhetri, the captain of the Indian National football, was felicitated by after he retired from international football, following a goalless draw between India and Kuwait in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier on Thursday. Several prominent dignitaries of the Indian football circuit, including the president of the All India Football Federation, were present in the felicitation ceremony.Chhetri had started is professional football career in Kolkata, 22 years ago, penning a contract with the Mariners, but also played with East Bengal for a brief period of time. Chhetri is a sporting icon in cricket-mad India. The diminutive striker, who is 1.7 metres tall (5ft 7in), made his debut against fierce rivals Pakistan in 2005 and scored India’s only goal. He hit a hat-trick against Tajikistan to help India qualify for the Asian Cup for the first time in 27 years in 2011.
In 2009 he was offered a contract by London club Queens Park Rangers, in England’s second tier, but he could not get a work permit. India’s former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar also paid tribute to footballer Sunil Chhetri. Tendulkar shared a picture of Chhetri waving goodbye to the world after his last match. In the caption, the 51-year-old legendary cricketer praised Sunil Chhetri’s scores, saying, “No goal is easy to achieve. Let alone 94 international ones. You’ve held the flag high, Sunil Chhetri. Congratulations on a remarkable career” he added.