Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri is set to make a surprising return to the national team at the age of 40, reversing his decision to retire from international football last year.
The former captain, who ranks as the fourth-highest goal scorer in men’s international football history, played his final match for India in June 2024 during a World Cup qualifier. At the time, Chhetri revealed that his “instinct” had led him to believe that the game against Kuwait should mark the end of his illustrious career. He bid farewell in front of nearly 59,000 fans in Kolkata.
However, in an unexpected turn of events, India’s head coach, Manolo Marquez, announced on Thursday that Chhetri would rejoin the squad for the upcoming March international fixtures.
India’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup have ended, and the team is now focusing on securing a spot in the 2027 Asian Cup.
Marquez explained the decision in a statement released by the All India Football Federation (AIFF): “Qualifying for the Asian Cup is a top priority for us. Given the significance of the tournament and the challenges ahead, I spoke with Sunil Chhetri about the possibility of his return to bolster the national team. He agreed, and we have included him in the squad.”
India is scheduled to play a friendly match against the Maldives on March 19, followed by an Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25.
Football has long struggled to gain widespread popularity in India, a nation of 1.4 billion people where cricket dominates the sports landscape. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter once referred to India as a “sleeping giant” in the world of football.
Chhetri, a towering figure in Indian sports despite his modest height of 1.7 meters, made his international debut against arch-rivals Pakistan in 2005, scoring India’s sole goal in that match. Although he had brief stints in Portugal and the United States, the majority of his career has been spent playing in India. In 2009, he was offered a contract by Queens Park Rangers, a club in England’s second tier, but was unable to secure a work permit.
Chhetri’s return is expected to provide a significant boost to the Indian national team as they aim to make their mark on the international stage.
