Sunil Chhetri has formally ended his worldwide profession following India’s exit from the ultimate spherical of AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. The 41-year-old, India’s all-time main scorer with 95 objectives in 157 appearances, had initially retired in June 2024 with an emotional farewell at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium. Nevertheless, he returned earlier this 12 months after then-head coach Manolo Márquez requested his presence for the Asian Cup qualifiers.
Chhetri performed six matches throughout his comeback, scoring simply as soon as. Regardless of his efforts, India did not qualify. After the marketing campaign, he instructed present head coach Khalid Jamil to exclude him from the squad for the ultimate dead-rubber AFC Asian Cup qualifier towards Bangladesh and deal with shaping the group’s future with out him.
Whereas that was an indication, Chhetri confirmed his second retirement from nationwide group duties in a dialog with Instances of India.
“It was simple telling Khalid Sir about my determination. Once I joined the nationwide group, my solely aim was to assist as a lot as attainable within the qualifiers. There was nothing else. If there have been no qualifiers, I most likely would not have come again. As soon as it was clear we could not qualify, I used to be joyful to inform the coach, and he understood,” Chhetri stated.
“There are not any regrets, besides that we did not qualify. I gave my finest,” he added.
He additionally stepped except for the captaincy, letting senior gamers like Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandesh Jhingan lead the group.
Sunil Chhetri’s skilled retirement?
Though Chhetri has formally retired from worldwide soccer, he dropped a shock trace that the 2025–26 season with Bengaluru FC could possibly be his final in skilled soccer.
“If we win the ISL, it’s going to give me an opportunity to put on nationwide (profitable) membership colours and play in worldwide competitions once more. At 42, it is not simple. I wish to rating 15 objectives this season and retire,” he added.
The revelation got here as a shock to followers, given his ongoing home kind. Earlier this 12 months, Chhetri netted 14 objectives within the ISL, second solely to Golden Boot winner Alaaeddine Ajaraie. A triumphant season may let him bow out on a excessive word, whereas a disappointing marketing campaign may see him hold up his boots totally.
India nonetheless lacks a Chhetri substitute
Chhetri’s potential full exit leaves a evident void for India. His return earlier this 12 months had been prompted by the shortage of a confirmed striker to guide the road, and even after his transient comeback, the nationwide group nonetheless hasn’t recognized a dependable goal-scorer who can shoulder the accountability.
With Chhetri retiring from worldwide soccer, India faces the pressing activity of grooming a ahead able to filling the hole left by its most prolific scorer, a problem that might outline the following period of the Blue Tigers.
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