Sunil Chhetri in tears as Salt Lake gives standing ovation on farewell

kolkata,UPDATED: Jun 6, 2024 21:28 IST

India captain Sunil Chhetri was in tears as the Salt Lake Stadium gave a standing ovation to the legendary footballer after his final game at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Sunil Chhetri's final game for India ended in a 0-0 draw against Kuwait. Chhetri took a lap of honour at the end of the game in the Salt Lake Stadium, which stood on its feet, chanting the name of the footballer.

The India players also gave Chhetri the guard of honour at the end of the match as they bid good bye to the legendary footballer. Chhetri retired as the highest goal scorer of India (94) and after playing the most matches for the team.

Salt Lake Stadium kept buzzing throughout the game. The tifos praised Chhetri's commitment to India football and called him the golden boy. The other tifos paid tribute to the Indian captain for his sensational performance and longevity for India. Chhetri's father was also present in the ground and told the media that he was a little emotional for his son's final match for the national team.

India vs Kuwait: Highlights

Sunil Chhetri's final international game before retirement suffered a not-so-ideal fate after India played out a disappointing 0-0 draw against Kuwait on June 6 in what was their FIFA World Cup Qualifier clash. Playing the entirety of the match, Chhetri was not able to end his already iconic India career with one more match-winning goal. The 39-year-old ended his career as the fourth-highest goalscorer in men's international football, behind the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Ali Daei.