New Delhi: In recognition of the legendary career of football legend Sunil Chhetri, world football governing body FIFA has released a three-episode series on his life and career. FIFA announced that the three episodes are available on FIFA+, its streaming platform.
"You know all about Ronaldo and Messi, now get the definitive story of the third highest scoring active men's international. Sunil Chhetri | Captain Fantastic is available on FIFA+ now," the FIFA tweeted from its World Cup handle.
The series captures a lot of what is unseen and unheard about this football star, be it his pre-teen anguish, his debut for India at the age of 20, his romance with his future wife and his early days and peak as a football player with several awards and records under his belt.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Chhetri and said, "Well done Sunil Chhetri! This will certainly boost football’s popularity in India."
"The first episode takes us back to where it all started...all leading up to his India debut at the age of 20. Close associates, loved ones, and footballing colleagues help tell the tale -- apart from the man himself, the man affectionately dubbed, 'Captain, Leader, Legend'," the synopsis of the first episode said.
The second episode is about the player starting to perform wonders for the national team, his dream of playing professional football for a top-class overseas club, and in the third episode, it is shown haw Chhetri scaled heights of his professional career and his personal life. Trophies piled up and records were shattered.
Notably, 38-year-old Chhetri is third in the list for active footballers with most international goals with 84 strikes to his name, behind Cristiano Ronaldo (117) and Lionel Messi (90).
He made his India debut in 2005 and since then has played in 131 matches, including the one against Vietnam on Tuesday.