Islamabad: Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has made a surprising return to the national team at the age of 40, reversing his retirement decision from last year.

The former skipper, positioned fourth among the top men’s international goal scorers, played his final match for India in June 2024 during a World Cup qualifier.

At that moment, he attributed his decision to retire to instinct, making an emotional departure in front of nearly 59,000 spectators in Kolkata.rare moments in football

India’s head coach, Manolo Marquez, has now confirmed Chhetri’s comeback for the upcoming March international fixtures.

With India already out of the race for the 2026 World Cup, the primary focus has shifted toward securing qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup.

India is set to take on the Maldives in a friendly on March 19, followed by an Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25.

Despite football struggling to gain traction in cricket-obsessed India, Chhetri remains an iconic sports personality. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter once referred to India as a “sleeping giant” of global football.

Sunil, who made his international debut against Pakistan in 2005, had short spells in Portugal and the United States but spent most of his playing career in India. In 2009, a potential transfer to England’s Queens Park Rangers collapsed due to work permit complications.