Indian hockey stalwart Manpreet Singh added another remarkable chapter to his glittering career on Wednesday, becoming the most-capped player in the history
of Indian men's hockey.
The 33-year-old midfielder made his 413th international appearance during India's FIH Pro League clash against Germany, surpassing the long-standing national record of 412 matches held by former captain and current Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey.
To mark the historic milestone, Hockey India announced a cash reward of ₹10 lakh for the veteran midfielder.
Manpreet Singh Surpasses Dilip Tirkey
The landmark appearance saw Manpreet move ahead of one of Indian hockey's greatest defenders and cement his place among the sport's most enduring performers.
Having made his senior India debut in 2011 as a teenager, Manpreet has spent more than 15 years at the heart of the national team, becoming one of the defining figures of India's resurgence on the global stage.
"As Indian hockey continues to celebrate 100 years of its rich legacy, Manpreet Singh, who is one of the greatest servants of the game in the modern era, has achieved a feat no Indian player has managed before," Hockey India said in a statement.
The governing body hailed Manpreet as the "heartbeat of Indian hockey" and credited his leadership, consistency and longevity for helping shape one of the country's most successful modern eras.
A Career Filled With Historic Moments
From a difficult Olympic debut at London 2012 to captaining India to a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Manpreet has been at the centre of several landmark achievements.
His trophy cabinet includes Asian Games gold medals in 2014 and 2022, Asia Cup titles in 2017 and 2025, multiple Asian Champions Trophy triumphs and back-to-back Olympic bronze medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
The midfielder was recognised with the Arjuna Award in 2018 before receiving India's highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, in 2021.
'Representing India Is The Biggest Honour'
Reflecting on the achievement, Manpreet described the record as one of the proudest moments of his career.
"It is a very proud moment for me to have played so many matches for India. Representing the country has always been the biggest honour of my life and reaching this milestone makes me extremely happy," Manpreet said.
The veteran dedicated the achievement to his teammates, family and support system that helped him navigate the highs and lows of a career spanning over a decade.
"I would also like to dedicate this milestone to my family, especially my mother, brothers, wife and children, who have supported me unconditionally from the very beginning," he added.
Among Hockey's Global Greats
The milestone places Manpreet among the most-capped men's international hockey players in history.
Only Belgium's John-John Dohmen (481), Dutch legend Teun de Nooijer (453), Australia's Eddie Ockenden (451) and Great Britain's Barry Middleton (432) have played more international matches.
Remarkably, Manpreet is currently the only active men's hockey player in the world with more than 400 international appearances, highlighting his extraordinary consistency, fitness and longevity at the highest level.
Even after rewriting Indian hockey history, Manpreet insists his biggest dreams remain unfinished.
"The World Cup and the dream of winning Olympic gold continue to inspire me every day," he said.
For a player who has already achieved almost everything in the sport, the pursuit of hockey's ultimate prize continues.
