In an unexpected turnabout, Indian football great Sunil Chhetri will return to the national squad at 40. India’s former captain, the fourth-highest men’s international goal scorer, retired in June 2024 during a World Cup qualifier.
Last year, Chhetri stated “instinct” informed him the Kuwait match should be his last, and he retired in front of over 59,000 spectators in Kolkata. However, India head coach Manolo Marquez announced the return of their most-capped player for the March international window on Thursday.
India is pursuing the 2027 Asian Cup after missing out on the 2026 World Cup.
“We must qualify for the Asian Cup. According to the All India Football Federation, Marquez explored a comeback with Sunil Chhetri to improve the national squad “The tournament and matches ahead were crucial.
“He agreed, and so we have included him in the squad.”
In preparation for an Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25, India play a friendly against Maldives on March 19.
In India, football struggles to gain popularity among the 1.4 billion population, while cricket remains the nation’s passion. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter labelled India a “sleeping giant” of football. India loves cricket, and Chhetri is a legend.
The 1.7m (5ft 7in) striker debuted in 2005 against Pakistan and scored India’s sole goal. Chhetri spent most of his career in India after two unsuccessful trips in Portugal and the US. In 2009, British second-tier club Queens Park Rangers offered him a contract, but he was unable to obtain a work permit.
