Indian football icon and national team captain Sunil Chhetri announced his decision to retire from international football on June 6.

In a video posted on X, he said that India's World Cup qualifier against Kuwait would be his last match.

“One last match… for our sake… let's win the match and we can leave, happy,” he said in the video.

Chhetri, 39, has been playing for the country for 19 years, scoring his first goal in his debut match in 2005.

He is one of the country's most celebrated players, credited with shining a spotlight on Indian football at the national and international levels, amid a cricket-centric culture.

He currently holds the record for third highest international scorer among active footballers, after Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the nine-minute, 51-second video post on X, Chhetri recalled the ups and downs of his long career and expressed his sorrow over his decision.

“The kid inside will probably continue to fight to play football, but the sensible, mature player and person knows that this is it,” he said. “But it wasn’t easy,” he added.

Tributes poured in on X, with many fans expressing their gratitude for his contribution to Indian football.

“'End of an era' is sometimes used loosely in sports, but for Indian football, this is no more true. Sunil Chhetri – captain, leader, legend – announces his retirement,” said a fan .

“A timeless legend of Indian football,” wrote another.

Fans and experts say his longevity in international football, along with his work ethic, are the key factors in Chhetri's success.

In India, he has won several football awards, including the Arjuna Award – the country's second highest sporting award – and the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.

On the world stage, he led the team to victory in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup, South Asian Football Federation Championship, Intercontinental Cup and more.

Chhetri, known for following a strict diet and workout regime, told BBC in a previous interview about the “little sacrifices” he makes.

“It all depends on what I eat and how much sleep I get. For the kind of good life I have had by the grace of God, it's no big deal to opt for broccoli over biryani – because I know there will be enough time.” for such indulgences once I am done with the game,” he said.

Now that Chhetri has hung up his phone, one question that will surely be plaguing fans and players will be “After Chhetri, who?”