Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri has officially brought the curtains down on his illustrious international career, confirming that his time with the national team
has come to an end.
The 42-year-old striker, who made a brief return earlier this year for the final round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, revealed that he had only come back to help the team in those crucial matches - and with India now out of contention, he has decided to call it quits for good.
Chhetri had originally retired from international football in June last year, marking an emotional farewell after nearly two decades of service. However, his impressive form in the Indian Super League (ISL) - where he scored 14 goals, the second-highest tally of the season behind Golden Boot winner Alaaeddine Ajaraie - convinced then head coach Manolo Marquez to persuade him into one final stint for the national side.
Despite his efforts, the comeback did not go as planned. Chhetri found the net only once in six appearances, and India's campaign ended in disappointment. With the team failing to qualify, the country's all-time top scorer decided it was time to step away from international football permanently.
"It was easy telling Khalid sir about my decision. When I joined the national team, my only goal was to help as much as possible in the qualifiers. There was nothing else. If there were no qualifiers, I probably wouldn't have come back. Once it was clear we couldn't qualify, I was happy to tell the coach and he understood," Chhetri told The Times of India, referring to Khalid Jamil, who replaced Marquez as head coach in August.
Chhetri also hinted that his club career could soon follow the same path. "If we win the ISL, it will give me a chance to wear national (winning) club colours and play in international competitions again. At 42, it's not easy. I want to score 15 goals this season and retire," he said.
Reflecting on his brief return, Chhetri admitted he knew the challenges but had no regrets. "I was certain I was called because of my ISL form. The Asian qualifiers really pushed me over the edge to say yes. When I chose to come back, I knew this was a possibility because I've played long enough. For me, there are no regrets. The regret is that we did not qualify. I gave my best in those four games. "
Chhetri bows out with 95 international goals, leaving behind a legacy unmatched in Indian football - one built on consistency, leadership, and an undying passion for the game.
