Football

Sunil Chhetri, the legendary Indian footballer, bid farewell to international football with a tearful farewell at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The 39-year-old talisman, who has been a beacon of hope for Indian football for nearly two decades, played his final match for the Blue Tigers against Kuwait in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.Despite the match ending in a goalless draw, the stadium erupted in a standing ovation as Chhetri walked off the pitch for the last time. His teammates formed a guard of honor, a fitting tribute to the man who has captained India with distinction for many years.In an emotional speech, Chhetri thanked everyone who had been a part of his glorious journey. "The ones who have watched in videos, the ones who have taken autographs, the ones... the old-time supporters, thank you everyone. These 19 years would not have been possible without each and everyone of you and I genuinely mean it," he said.Chhetri, who has played a record 151 matches for India and scored a record 94 goals, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian footballers of all time. He has led India to numerous victories, including the Nehru Cup in 2007, 2009, and 2012, and the SAFF Championship in 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023.His most memorable achievement came in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, where he scored a hat-trick in the final to help India qualify for its first AFC Asian Cup in 27 years.Chhetri's retirement marks the end of an era for Indian football. He has been an inspiration to countless young players and has played a pivotal role in raising the profile of the sport in India. His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

Olivier Giroud bid farewell to AC Milan with a poignant goal in their thrilling 3-3 draw against Salernitana on Saturday. The match marked the final appearance for both Giroud and coach Stefano Pioli, who guided Milan to the 2022 Serie A title.Giroud, who will join Los Angeles FC after Euro 2024, opened the scoring for Milan in the 27th minute. The veteran striker, who scored 49 goals in three seasons with the Rossoneri, was visibly emotional after netting his 17th goal of the campaign.Milan fans paid tribute to Giroud, chanting his name and holding up banners in his honor. The Frenchman, who played a pivotal role in Milan's Scudetto triumph, was substituted with five minutes remaining, prompting a standing ovation from the San Siro crowd.Pioli, who took over Milan in 2019, was also given a warm send-off by fans and players. The Italian coach, who led Milan to the Champions League semi-finals last season, was hoisted on the shoulders of his players at the end of the match."We won and lost together, shared joy and pain together," said Pioli. "You lit a fire in my heart that will not be extinguished. I won't forget you."Milan announced on Friday that Pioli would be leaving at the end of the season. He is reportedly set to be replaced by Lille coach Paulo Fonseca.In other Serie A action, Juventus secured a 2-0 victory over Monza to finish third in the standings. Goals from Federico Chiesa and Alex Sandro in the first half were enough for Juve to end their season on a positive note.Thiago Motta is expected to be appointed as the next Juventus coach after he decided not to renew his contract at Bologna. The former Italy midfielder guided Bologna to a respectable 12th-place finish in Serie A this season.

Real Madrid's legendary midfielder Toni Kroos bid farewell to the Santiago Bernabeu in his final La Liga appearance for the club on Saturday, as the Spanish champions played out a 0-0 draw against Real Betis.Kroos, 34, announced his retirement from international football after Euro 2024, and his departure from Real Madrid marks the end of an illustrious 10-year spell at the Bernabeu. The German maestro has been an integral part of Real Madrid's success in recent years, winning five Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, and numerous other trophies."It's not easy, I can only say thanks to Madrid, the club, my team-mates, to the stadium, I've always felt at home here in these 10 years, I can't ask for more, they've been 10 unforgettable years," said an emotional Kroos after the match.The draw against Betis was a fitting end to a triumphant campaign for Real Madrid, who have already secured the La Liga title. Carlo Ancelotti fielded a strong side, but with nothing at stake, the players did not push themselves too hard.Madrid finished the season with only one league defeat and were unbeaten at the Bernabeu. Atletico Madrid, fourth, finished their campaign with a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad, while Athletic Bilbao beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0.Relegated Almeria earned only their third win of the season to move off the bottom of the table, thrashing Cadiz 6-1. Villarreal striker Alexander Sorloth limped off injured in his team's 1-1 draw against Osasuna, leaving the golden boot in the hands of Girona striker Artem Dovbyk, who scored a hat-trick on Friday to move to 24 goals, one ahead of the Norwegian.