Indian Football: Sunil Chhetri, generational talent and eternal leader, walks off into the sunset

After the post-match hugs and handshakes had been done with, Sunil Chhetri went on a solo lap of honour at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan while his teammates waited near the dugout.

In many ways, the lap around the stadium, after India’s disappointing draw against Kuwait in their 2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifying second round match, summed up Chhetri’s career in the Indian jersey.

For most of the 19 years he played for the Indian team, he was often the lone shining light, single handedly providing the few moments of joy for fans.

A crunch penalty dispatched with ease, netting hat-tricks when required and harrying defenders twice his size just through sheer will. And on Thursday night, even at 39, he was attempting more sprints than any other player on the pitch.

#INDvsKUW #IndianFootball

19 years, 151 matches, 94 goals and countless memories.

For all this and so much more, thank you Sunil Chhetri!

???? Jio Cinemahttps://t.co/gUPyFav7Wt pic.twitter.com/vmMPDIbyed— The Field (@thefield_in) June 6, 2024

But in what was probably India’s biggest match in a long time, Chhetri unfortunately could not deliver. It is not a slight on the man who has routinely stepped up for the country over for almost two decades. After all, it’s not everyday you see male footballers score 94 goals in 151 matches for their...

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