Chhetri, who made his worldwide debut in 2005 and retired as India’s all-time high scorer and most-capped participant, has been named in coach Manolo Marquez’s 26-player squad for the March FIFA worldwide window.
New Delhi: Chhetri, who made his worldwide debut in 2005 and retired as India’s all-time high scorer and most-capped participant, has been named in coach Manolo Marquez’s 26-player squad for the March FIFA worldwide window.
This resolution comes lower than a yr after Chhetri introduced his retirement following a outstanding profession, abandoning a big hole that is still unfilled.
Having competed on the highest stage till the age of 39 and ending as one of many sport’s high scorers with 94 worldwide objectives, Chhetri’s retirement made headlines, with FIFA, the worldwide governing physique of soccer, main the tributes for the enduring participant.
In 2022, FIFA additionally launched a documentary celebrating the lengthy profession of the Indian captain.
The documentary, titled Captain Incredible, was divided into three components: Kick-Off, Mid-Recreation, and Further Time.
Chhetri ranks because the fourth-highest purpose scorer in males’s soccer, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ali Daei.
He introduced his retirement following India’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match towards Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6 final yr.
The Blue Tigers are set to face Maldives in a pleasant on March 19 as a part of their preparations for the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Ultimate Spherical towards Bangladesh on March 25.
Marquez stated, “The qualification for the Asian Cup may be very essential for us. Given the significance of the event and the matches forward, I mentioned with Sunil Chhetri about making a comeback to strengthen the nationwide group. He agreed, and so now we have included him within the squad.”
After his retirement, Chhetri continued to play for Bengaluru FC within the Indian Tremendous League. He has scored 12 objectives in 23 matches this season, turning into the highest-scoring Indian participant within the league.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong will host the Indian senior males’s group for his or her two matches in the course of the FIFA worldwide window this month.
India has been positioned in a qualifying group for the Asian Cup alongside Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Within the final version of the event, India had a disappointing marketing campaign, failing to advance previous the group stage after dropping all their matches.
India’s 26-player squad for the March 2025 FIFA Worldwide Window:
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Asish Rai, Boris Singh Thangjam, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Hmingthanmawia, Mehtab Singh, Rahul Bheke, Roshan Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose.
Midfielders: Ashique Kuruniyan, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Brandon Fernandes, Brison Fernandes, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lalengmawia, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Suresh Singh Wangjam.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Farukh Choudhary, Irfan Yadwad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh
