A cry of anguish echoed through Salt Lake Stadium as the referee blew the final whistle. No one left. Tears flowed freely, and a profound silence blanketed the crowd.
In that moment, time seemed to stand still for one man. A man who had shouldered the nation’s footballing hopes and dreams, now ready to pass the baton. Wearing the number 11 jersey with the captain’s armband, Sunil Chhetri, India’s prodigal footballing son, soaked in the applause as nearly 60,000 fans stood on their feet, cheering him off the field for one last time in Indian colors.
At The Bridge, we compiled a list of heartfelt reactions that poured in on social media for India’s number 11.
๏ปฟ๏ปฟFrom Paris to Kolkata
IPL champs make their mark
19 years. 94 goals. 151 games.
Thank you Sunil Chhetri, for inspiring a nation and leaving an unforgettable legacy on the pitch.
It was an honour to host your final game in Kolkata.
You’ll always be our hero! ๐ฎ๐ณโฝ๏ธ
Cheers to an incredible career @chetrisunil11 ๐โฆ pic.twitter.com/AOYhIjzWWh
โ KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) June 6, 2024
From one G.O.A.T to another
No goal is easy to achieve.
Let alone 94 international ones.
You’ve held the flag high, Sunil Chhetri.๐ฎ๐ณโฝ
Congratulations on a remarkable career! pic.twitter.com/K9QSkcg0e3
โ Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 6, 2024
Indeed a good fortune to him ours, Rahul!
Paaji’s blessing
Take a bow captain @chetrisunil11 ๐๐ป! 19 years, 94 goals, 151 matches and countless memories. What a legendary career ๐ definitely a benchmark for youngsters to pursue the sport and to dream big. Thank you for leading by example, for every unforgettable moment, and for makingโฆ pic.twitter.com/pgOvH6gA8Z
โ Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) June 6, 2024
An sporting icon and an achiever!
Welcome Sunil Chhetri @chetrisunil11 to the beginning of a glorious new journey. You start a new phase of life today.
You have been a golden boy of Bengal, Captain of the Indian football team, a sports icon of Asia, a globally adored scorer, a giant achiever. I am sure thatโฆ
โ Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 6, 2024
Nothing else needs to be said
Beyond sporting confinements
๐ฅน๐ ๐ญ๐ต ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐, ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ผ๐ฎ๐น๐, ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐น๐ฒ๐๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐. ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ถ๐น ๐๐ต๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐ถ!
๐ Sunil Chhetri’s Bharat Army forever.
๐ท Pics belong to the respective owners โข #SunilChhetri #INDvKUW #WorldCupQualifierโฆ pic.twitter.com/DwtJrNaExr
โ The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) June 6, 2024
Certainly the hardest goodbye