Marking the 'End of an era', Sunil Chhetri on Thursday announced his retirement. Sunil Chhetri is an Indian football icon and captain of the national team. Sunil Chhetri, 39, has announced his decision to retire from international football on 6 June. In a video posted on X, he said that India's World Cup qualification match against Kuwait would be his last game. However, many of you may not be knowing that Sunil Chhetri messaged Team India cricketer & RCB star Virat Kohli before announcing it in the public domain. Virat Kohli during an interview with the RCB's YouTube channel spilled the beans on his 'dear friend' Sunil Chhetri. Below is what Virat Kohli said-
"He is a really dear friend..He actually messaged me as well informing me that he is gonna do it. He felt like he is at peace with the decision. I have become really close with him over the years. I wish him nothing but the best. He is a lovely lovely guy."
For those who are unaware, Sunil Chhetri has played for the country for 19 years, having scored his first goal during his debut match in 2005. The 39-year-old star footballer is among the country's most celebrated players, credited with shining a spotlight on Indian football nationally and internationally, amidst a cricket-centric culture.
Currently, Chhetri holds the record of being the third-highest scorer of international goals among active footballers, after Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. Chhetri is a very close friend of RCB stalwart Virat Kohli. "The kid inside will probably keep fighting to play football, but the sensible, mature player and person knows that this is it," Chhetri had said in a video.
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