Sunil Chhetri is coming out of retirement at age 40 to help India in qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup. India recalled the veteran striker this week for the March 25 qualifier against Bangladesh. Chhetri is third among active international scorers with 94,

New Delhi: Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri has decided to come out of his international retirement to help the national team in the FIFA friendly assignment scheduled this month, the sport's apex body in the country said on Thursday. Chhetri returns to the team, which he led for more than a decade, aged 40.

Chhetri, who made his international debut in 2005 and retired as India's all-time top scorer and most-capped player, has been named in coach Manolo Marquez's 26-player squad for the March FIFA international window.

Described as “a wise decision” by the sport’s national federation, Sunil Chhetri’s return from international retirement at 40 actually reflects badly on Indian football, for it lays bare the paucity of quality strikers in a country of over 1.

"Sunil Chhetri is back. The captain, leader, legend will return to the Indian national team for the FIFA International Window in March," the All India Football Federation (AIFF) wrote on its official 'X' handle. The move comes less than a year after he announced his retirement after a glorious career, leaving a huge void that is yet to be filled.

New Delhi: India senior men’s national team head coach Manolo Márquez announced his 26-member squad, including Sunil Chhetri, for the March FIFA International Window.

Sunil Chhetri has performed a retirement U-turn as he will be back in India colours during the March international window, AIFF announced on March 6. Chhetri retired from football in 2024.

The 40-year-old striker had announced his retirement from international football last year, having scored 94 goals for India.