Over his illustrious career of nearly two decades, Sunil Chhetri, often hailed as one of the
greatest footballers India has ever produced, has. The journey from a young football
enthusiast to a national icon is a testament to his dedication, hard work, and exceptional
talent in India.
Early Life and Background
On August 3, 1984, Sunil Chhetri was born in Secunderabad (now Telangana), Andhra
Pradesh. His dad was an Indian Army officer called K.B. Chhetri. The mother Sushila Chhetri
and her twin sister were outstanding football players for the Nepal women’s national team.
Club Career
Mohun Bagan secured him his first professional contract in 2002 when he joined them. He
remained at JCT for three seasons before transferring to JCT again in 2005 At JCT where
he scored twenty one goals within forty eight matches thereby attracting interest from more
prominent teams.
The player also had spells with East Bengal and Dempo where he continued to shine. In
2012, Sporting CP B (reserve team) in Portugal made a significant move by signing Chhetri
thus becoming one of the few Indian players to represent European teams. Probably this is
why his stay in Europe was short but very crucial for him.
In 2013, Chhetri came back home and joined Bengaluru FC. Since being with Bengaluru FC,
he has been instrumental in helping the club win several I-League as well as Indian Super
League (ISL) titles. As a result, they cannot do without his captaincy and ability to score
goals.
International Career
Sunil Chhetri played his first international match for India against Pakistan on June 12th, 2005. Within that game, he scored his first goal which became an introduction into a prolific
international career. This ensured that he went down in history as the top scorer ever for
India with 94 goals at national level since then.
AFC Asian Cup tournaments, in addition to the South Asian Football Federation
Championship, and other international competitions have seen him represent India. Chhetri
comes third on the list of most active goal scorers worldwide besides Cristiano Ronaldo and
Lionel Messi.
Awards and Achievements
The list of awards for Chhetri is so long. He was declared AIFF Player of the Year in 2007,
2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018. The Arjuna Award was given to him in 2011 for his
contribution to Indian sports while he also received Padma Shri in 2019 that is the fourth
highest civilian award in India. The Khel Ratna Award which is India’s highest sporting
honour was bestowed upon him in 2021.
Struggles and Overcoming Adversity
Even though he had achieved a lot, Chhetri’s journey was full of challenges. Portugal was
his next destination in football where he went through a tough transition process to European
football. Moreover, this also meant leading the national team in a country where cricket is
prioritized over football which required great endurance and fortitude. All these obstacles,
however, have been surmounted through Chhetri’s unwavering commitment to his fitness
and honing of his skills.
Legacy and Impact
Sunil Chhetri’s footsteps in Indian soccer are deeply embedded. Besides setting an example
for future generations of players, he helped bring attention to the sport in India. In 2018,
Sunil Chhetri became an overnight social media sensation after posting about low
attendance at matches of the Indian national team.
The fact that Sunil Chhetri will announce his retirement from international football confirms
after June 6 has made the nation grapple with this shocking news, the question on
everyone’s mind is: What does the future hold for Indian football without Sunil Chhetri? This
shows how much he has done but what he leaves behind will forever be a source of
inspiration for generations to come in Indian football towards greater heights.
