Sunil Chhetri Acknowledges He Is in an “Extra Time” Phase, Yet to Determine Retirement Plans
Sunil Chhetri, the Indian football star, acknowledges that he is in the later stages of his career but has not set a retirement date, While he won’t be playing in the 2026 World Cup, he remains committed to enjoying the game and supporting his country, Chhetri praises the growth of the national team under coach Igor Stimac and expresses his excitement for India’s potential qualification for the World Cup, despite it being unlikely, He also discusses the profound impact of becoming a father and how it has changed his perspective on life.
According to his own admission, Indian football star Sunil Chhetri is currently in the later stages of his successful career but has not set a specific retirement date, However, it is certain that the 39-year-old Chhetri will not be participating in the 2026 football World Cup, Chhetri expressed his contentment, stating that he is enjoying this bonus period and does not know when it will come to an end, He emphasized that he prefers to focus on shorter time frames rather than long-term goals.
Chhetri expressed his thoughts ahead of India’s 2026 World Cup second-round qualifiers, where they are placed in Group A alongside Qatar, Kuwait, and Afghanistan, Their upcoming matches are against Kuwait on November 16 and Qatar on November 21, The winners and runners-up from each of the nine groups will advance to the third round of qualifiers, where 18 teams will be divided into three groups, The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, The third and fourth-placed teams will proceed to the fourth round, which will determine two more Asian qualifiers for the tournament.
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Chhetri acknowledged that playing in the FIFA World Cup at the age of 42 might be beyond him, stating that he dreams more as an Indian fan, He affirmed his commitment to supporting the Indian national team and watching every game, Chhetri believes that playing for both his country and club is fulfilling as long as he enjoys it and can contribute to the team, He emphasized that the day he stops enjoying the sport and is unable to make a significant contribution will mark the end of his playing career.
As his debut in 2005, Chhetri has represented India 143 times and holds the record for scoring the most goals by an Indian player, with 93 goals, He currently ranks as the third most prolific scorer among active players worldwide, following Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Chhetri credited head coach Igor Stimac for the growth of the national team since taking charge in 2019, He viewed Stimac not only as a coach but also as a father figure or elder brother to the players, providing support and understanding their needs.
Outside of football, Chhetri recently welcomed his son Dhruv with his wife Sonam Bhattacharya in August, He described this experience as life-changing, stating that holding his son for the first time reshaped his perspective, Chhetri expressed his eagerness to return home after away trips, indicating the strength of his bond with his family.
Although India’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup are unlikely due to eight direct slots allocated to Asia out of 48 available slots, Chhetri believes that if it happens, it would be an enormous achievement, He expressed his anticipation and the immense impact it would have on the nation, sharing his dreams of witnessing that day alongside many others who eagerly await this accomplishment.
