Legendary Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri, the country's top scorer, will hang up his boots for international matches after the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Kuwait in June. The 39-year-old striker made the announcement via social media on Thursday.

Chhetri has been the spearhead of Indian football for over a decade. With a staggering 94 international goals, he stands as the third-highest active scorer in the world, only behind the giants Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

"It was a difficult decision," Chhetri admitted in his video message. "But after much thought, I felt this should be my last game. It's emotional, of course. The player in me will always want to represent India. But it's time for the next generation to step up."

Chhetri's final international appearance will be in Kolkata, the city where his professional journey began with Mohun Bagan over two decades ago. This match holds even more significance as India needs a win to stay in contention for the World Cup qualifiers.

"A home win is crucial for our qualification chances," Chhetri said. "If we achieve that, it would be a perfect way to end my international career on a high note."