Sunil Chhetri could not control his tears at the end of the India vs Kuwait FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match in Kolkata on Thursday, as he was given a guard of honour by his teammates. During the lap of honour after the match, chants of โSunil, Sunilโ echoed at the ground. Chhetri, 39, played his final match for India, ending a remarkable 19-year career during which he made a record 151 appearances and scored 94 goals.
However, on Thursday, India played out a goalless draw against Kuwait that further dampens the Blue Tigersโ chances of qualifying for the third round. India now have five points from as many matches.
Watch the video here:
๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ซก๐ซถ#SunilChhetri #IndianFootball #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/oIseyjdpno
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) June 6, 2024
Chhetri finishes as the fourth highest goal-scorer in international football. Portugalโs Cristiano Ronaldo (128), Iranโs Ali Daei (108) and Argentinaโs World Cup winner Lionel Messi (106) are all ahead of Chhetri as far as top goal-scorers in international football us concerned.
๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง ๐#INDKUW #ThankYouSC11 #FIFAWorldCup ๐ #BlueTigers ๐ฏ #IndianFootball โฝ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/sDTaEnkUko
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 6, 2024
๐ฎ๐ณ India bid goodbye to its national hero, Sunil Chhetri ๐ฅบ#ThankYouSC11 | #AsianQualifiers pic.twitter.com/lnQaSk26FG
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) June 6, 2024
A total of 58,921 people were in attendance at the Salt Lake Stadium to witness the match, but were left disappointed after not seeing their star man score in India colours one final time. Having said that, Kuwait had made early inroads and showed aggressive and attacking intent in the first half to trouble the Indian defenders. The Blue Tigers, on the other hand, struggled to create chances.
It was on 12 June, 2005 when Chhetri had made his senior India debut in a game against Pakistan in Quetta, where he scored in a 1-1 draw against their arch-rivals.
Honourable GS, Shri Debashis Dutta and Honourable Football Secretary, Shri Swapan Banerjee of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club felicitated Sunil Chhetri to honour his illustrious career and contributions to Indian football on the occasion of his Final National Match at VYBK pic.twitter.com/L6CxMdXvks
— Mohun Bagan (@Mohun_Bagan) June 6, 2024
๐๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐ฅบ๐#ThankYouSC11 #FIFAWorldCup ๐ #BlueTigers ๐ฏ #IndianFootball โฝ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/j2M2Tx1w9F
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 6, 2024
The draw means India not only have to beat Qatar in Doha on 11 June, but also other results have to go in their way. Qatar have to beat Afghanistan, and hope Afghanistan and Kuwait play out a draw, which would mean a point might just be enough for India to progress.
 "FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: India, Kuwait play out goalless draw in Sunil Chhetri's final international match")
 "India vs Kuwait Highlights, FIFA World Cup Qualifier: India, Kuwait play out goalless draw in Sunil Chhetri's last game")
 "Sunil Chhetri retires: Complete list of trophies and individual awards he won for India")
 "What makes Sunil Chhetri an exception in Indian football?")