Sunil Chhetri, the talismanic captain of the Indian football team, is poised to reach a remarkable milestone in his illustrious career. On Tuesday, in the World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan in Guwahati, Chhetri will make his 150th international appearance, becoming only the 40th player in the world to achieve this feat.
Chhetri’s international journey began on June 12, 2005, in a friendly match against Pakistan in Quetta. He marked his debut with a goal in a 1-1 draw. Since then, he has amassed 149 caps for India, scoring a record 93 goals.
Throughout his career, Chhetri has been a prolific goal-scorer, holding the unique distinction of scoring at least one goal in his first, 25th, 50th, 75th, 100th, and 125th matches for the Blue Tigers. His exceptional goal-scoring prowess has earned him the admiration of fans and respect from opponents alike.
“It’s been an awe-inspiring and staggering cruise that all of us have been fortunate to witness since 2005,” said All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey. “Chhetri playing his 150th international match is an extraordinary accomplishment that will go a long way in keeping the Indian football flag flying high.”
Chhetri’s influence on Indian football extends beyond his on-field achievements. He has been a role model for aspiring footballers, inspiring millions to take up the beautiful game.
“He has been a great influencer who has motivated millions to play this beautiful game,” added Chaubey. “I congratulate Chhetri for reaching this great height in international football.”
The AIFF has announced that it will felicitate Chhetri on the sidelines of the return leg clash against Afghanistan in Guwahati.
“In many football fans’ eyes, Chhetri is almost the synonym of the Indian men’s national team,” said AIFF acting secretary general M Satyanarayan. “He is a fabulous footballer, a cool captain, and a star striker. The All India Football Federation is proud to felicitate him on his 150th international match. We sincerely hope Chhetri will continue to serve Indian football in the same breath in the future.”
