“Sunil Chhetri is back.” That is how the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced Sunil Chhetri’s decision to come out of his retirement.
Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri will be back in action in Indian colours in the crucial final round of qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup 2027. Chhetri’s return was confirmed as he was included in coach Manolo Marquez’s list of 26 players for the March FIFA international window.
India has been placed along Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Singapore in a qualifying group for the Asian Cup. Shillong’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host the Indian senior men’s team’s friendly match against Maldives on March 19 and the Group C opener of the Asian Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh on March 25.
Sunil Chhetri, 40, is India’s highest-ever goalscorer and was third among the world’s active players, behind Ronaldo and Messi, when he retired from international football in May last year. But he continued to play for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL).
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