after over three years away from international football, defoe was recalled to the england squad in march 2017 by manager gareth southgate for a friendly match against germany and a 2018 fifa world cup qualifying match against lithuania. on 26 march, defoe returned to the first team, against lithuania. ahead of captain, joe hart, defoe led the team onto the pitch with terminally ill child, bradley lowery, a sunderland supporter who suffered from neuroblastoma. england won the match 2–0 with defoe scoring the first goal.