Sunil Chhetri Comes out of International Retirement: Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has decided to return from his international retirement to help the national team in FIFA’s friendship matches to be held this month. The All India Football Federation (AIFF), the highest football organization in the country, gave this information on Thursday. Chhetri, who led the national team for more than a decade, will return to the team at the age of 40. AIFF wrote on its official ‘X’ handle, ‘Sunil Chhetri has returned. Captain, leaders, veteran players will return to the Indian national team for the FIFA international window in March.
Chhetri, who made his international football debut in 2005, said goodbye to the game as India’s all -time top goal scorer and the most match players. Coach Manolo Marques has included Chhetri in the list of 26 players for the March FIFA international window (time scheduled for international matches).
This step has come after less than a year after the announcement of retirement after his magnificent career, which has arisen a big emptiness which is yet to be filled. Chhetri played at the top level till the age of 39 and ended his career as one of the top scorers of the game with 94 international goals. Chhetri was praised by the football world led by FIFA, a global operating organization of World Football.
FIFA had earlier issued a documentary on the Indian captain, which served for a long time in 2022. This documentary titled ‘Captain Fantastic’ had three parts – kick off, mid -game and extra time. Christiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Ali Dai are the fourth highest goals in men’s football after Dai.
Chhetri said goodbye to international football after the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6 last year. The Indian team will play a friendly match against Maldives on March 19 to prepare for the opening match of the final round of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 qualifier against Bangladesh on 25 March.
Marques said, ‘It is very important for us to qualify for the Asian Cup. Seeing the importance of the tournament and further matches, I discussed with Sunil Chhetri to return to the national team to strengthen the national team. He agreed and so we have included him in the team.
After retirement, Chhetri continued to play for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League. He has scored 12 goals in 23 matches so far in this session and thus he is the most goal Indian player in the league. Shillong’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host two matches of Indian senior men’s team.
India has been placed in the qualifying group along with Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Singapore for the Asian Cup. India’s performance in the last season of the tournament was disappointing. The team could not move beyond the group stage after losing all their matches.
India’s 26 -member team for March 2025 FIFA International Window:
Goalkeeper: Amarinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Vishal Cath.
Defender: Ashish Rai, Boris Singh Thangjam, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Hingthanmavia, Mehtab Singh, Rahul Bhake, Roshan Singh, Sandesh Jhingan and Subhashish Bose.
Midfielder: Aashiq Kurunian, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Brandon Fernandes, Brison Fernandes, Jackson Singh Thonaozam, Lalengamavia, Liston Kolaso, Mahesh Singh Naorem and Suresh Singh Wangzam.
Forward: Sunil Chhetri, Farooq Chaudhary, Irfan Yadwad, Lallianjuala Changte and Manveer Singh.
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