Former India captain and iconic footballer Sunil Chhetri has come out of international retirement and will don the Indian jersey once again in the March FIFA window. The Blue Tigers are set to play two matches during this period—an international friendly against the Maldives on March 19 as preparation for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round and their opening qualifier match against Bangladesh on March 25.
Chhetri’s announcement of retirement in May last year had left his fans both emotional and surprised. With 94 international goals to his name, Chhetri is the fourth-highest goal scorer in men’s football, trailing behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ali Daei.
When Chhetri announced his retirement earlier, he made it clear that his decision was not influenced by any physical challenges. The retirement decision was not because of physical aspect; I am still fit, running, chasing, defending. The reason is to do with mental aspect,” Chhetri said.
Sunil Chhetri next match
His return is expected to be seamless, given his active involvement in the Indian Super League (ISL) season with Bengaluru FC. Chhetri has been in remarkable form, netting 12 goals to emerge as the highest Indian scorer in the season. Over 23 appearances, including 17 starts, he has contributed 14 goals and two assists across competitions.
The Indian football team had a difficult 2024, failing to secure a single win that year. Their last competitive victory was on November 16, 2023, when Manvir Singh scored the decisive goal against Kuwait in a World Cup qualifier. Chhetri’s return could be a significant boost to India’s fortunes moving forward.
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