Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri on Thursday announced his decision to retire from international football after the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, on 6th June, bringing the curtains down on a glorious two-decade career. 

The long-serving national team captain announced his decision through a video he posted on his social media accounts. 

India is currently second in Group A with four points, behind leaders Qatar. 

“The feel that I recollect in the last 19 years is a very nice combination of duty, pressure, and immense joy,” the 39-year-old Chhetri said. 

He continued, “I never thought individually these are the games I have played for the country, this is what I have done good, I have done bad. But, now I did it, this last one-and-a-half two months. It felt very strange," he said. "I took the decision because I was going towards it with the thought that the next game was going to be my last.”

Sunil who was looking emotional in the video added, “I want to enjoy each training session with the national team. The game against Kuwait demands pressure also. We need the three points to qualify for the next round. It is hugely important for us,” the skipper said.

"But in a strange way, I don't feel the pressure because these 15-20 days with the national team and the match against Kuwait is the last," he added.

Chhetri had made his 150th appearance for India in March and scored on the occasion against Afghanistan in Guwahati. India, though, lost that game 1-2.

Chhetri, who made his debut in 2005, has scored 94 goals for the country. He will leave the scene as India's all-time top scorer and most-capped player. He is also third in the list of goal scorers among active players behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

His teammate, custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu also commented on social media, “I never wanted to see this happen. I wish I could do something to change your mind but I also understand why it is happening bhai. The whole country needs to celebrate your international career on the 6th of June the way you deserve my Captain!'