Chhetri's return from retirement can brighten India's future, says Noguera

BENGALURU : Sunil Chhetri's decision to come out of retirement to play for India again came as no surprise given the forward's outstanding performances in the Indian Super League this season, Bengaluru FC's Spanish midfielder Alberto Noguera has said.

Chhetri retired from international football in June last year, but the 40-year-old donned the India jersey again and scored his 95th international goal in a 3-0 victory over Maldives in a friendly on Wednesday.

The fourth-highest international goalscorer with 95 goals after Cristiano Ronaldo (135), Lionel Messi (112) and Ali Daei (108), Chhetri has shown impressive form in the ISL, netting 12 goals in 24 appearances for Bengaluru FC this season.

"For me, it was not a surprise because of the kind of season he had, it's amazing. He is the second top scorer in the league," Noguera told Reuters.

"Of course, he decided to retire but after (India coach) Manolo Marquez called him, it's normal... because he has always been talking about helping the national team. He still has the desire to play.

"He can help develop young players. He's going to help the team... I know, he's not a young player but I'm sure that he can still help to do good things in the national team."

With FIFA considering a one-off expansion to 64 teams for the 2030 World Cup, Noguera believes India, who have never played at the finals, can qualify under new manager Marquez.

India are not in contention to reach the 2026 World Cup after finishing third in Group A in the second round of qualifying following a 2-1 defeat by Asian champions Qatar.

The country's most notable accomplishments to date remain their gold medal victories at the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games, and their fourth-place finish at the 1956 Summer Olympics.

'GRE