Sunil Chhetri, a ndian football great, will make an unexpected turn from his choice to hang his boots last year and return to the national squad aged 40.
Played his last encounter for India in June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier, the former captain, the fourth-highest men´s international goal scorer of all time, played. Last year, Chhetri stated, “instinct” informed him the match against Kuwait should be his last and he bowed out before around 59,000 spectators in Kolkata.
On Thursday, however, India head coach Manolo Marquez revealed the most-capped player’s comeback for the March international window. India is now aiming for the Asian Cup in 2027 after failing qualifying for the World Cup for 2026.
“For us, the Asian Cup qualifies as quite important. Considering the significance of the tournament and the upcoming matches, I spoke with Sunil Chhetri about returning to bolster the national squad,” Marquez said in a release from the All India Football Federation.
“He approved, thus we have included him into the squad.”
In preparation for an Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25, India plays friendly against Maldives on March 19.
Among the 1.4 billion inhabitants of India, where the nation’s long-standing cricket devotion dwarfs football, the sport has struggled to acquire footing. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter once said of India, a “sleeping giant” of football.
In India obsessed with cricket, Chhetri is a sporting hero. Standing 1.7 meters (5 feet 7 in), the little striker debuted against strong rivals Pakistan in 2005 and scored India’s only goal.
Chhetri has spent most of his career in India, but he had two brief but failed experiences in Portugal and the United States. London team Queens Park Rangers, in England’s second division, extended a contract offer to him in 2009; unfortunately, he was unable to obtain a work permit.
