Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri, 41, leads by example on and off the pitch

SINGAPORE – In the world’s most populous nation, 41-year-old warhorse Sunil Chhetri is still going strong in his battle to lift Indian football and keep the sport in the spotlight.

While the dream of a maiden World Cup appearance in 2026 is no longer possible, the Indian veteran – who came out of international retirement in March – continues to be a source of inspiration as the Blue Tigers aim to qualify for a third consecutive Asian Cup.

Speaking to The Straits Times after their 1-1 Asian Cup qualifying draw in Singapore on Oct 9, he said: “I just love playing... For the club, I enjoy playing any time I can be of value. The national team call came and I’m just here to do as much as I can. Whenever I’m called, I’ll give my best.”

With world No. 134 India hosting the Lions in Goa on Oct 14, he added: “We have to take the Asian Cup qualifiers one game at a time now. We didn’t start the campaign as well as we would have liked. (Against Singapore), it was difficult, especially after the first goal and red card.

“They are a decent side and play well at home, so to get the result was quite satisfying. We will go back and hope to get our first win.”

While cricket and field hockey lead the popularity stakes in India, football was meant to be Chhetri’s career as his father played for the Indian Army football team and his mother donned national colours for Nepal.

He was talent spotted after a friend’s recommendation landed him a stint with the City Club in Delhi.

Aged just 17, his performances at the Durand Cup earned him a trial at top club Mohun Bagan, where a bicycle-kick goal impressed then coach Subrata Bhattacharya, who would go on to become his father-in-law.

His nose for goals continued throughout his career as he became the first Indian footballer to sign professional terms with teams on three continents. On top of a host of Indian clubs, he joined American Major League Soccer side Kansas City Wizards in 2010 and Portugal’s Sporting Lisbon in 2012.

Making his senior international debut two months before he turned 21, Chhetri scored in the 1-1 draw against Pakistan and has gone on to grab 95 goals in 156 appearances for India.

He is the fourth-highest international goalscorer of all time, behind only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (141 goals in 224 games), Argentina’s Lionel Messi (114 goals in 194 games) and Iran’s Ali Daei (108 goals in 148 games).

Assured and modest, he said: “Some fans go overboard and think about comparing (me with Ronaldo and Messi). But there are footballing fans who understand there is no comparison between the kind of players that we are.

“But I will definitely compete with them with all my might in terms of giving the best for your country. There I probably would not lose.”

Indeed, the Indian talisman’s goals have helped his country win 11 football titles and crack the top 100 in the world rankings.

Notably, there was the hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Tajikistan in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup final and the eight-goal blitz across four games to help India win the 2018 Intercontinental Club. He showed no signs of slowing down when he scored five goals in five games to lead India to the 2023 South Asian Football Federation Championship.

In 2024, he announced that he would retire from international football after his 151st cap against Kuwait, but made a scoring return against the Maldives in March 2025.

Singapore skipper Hariss Harun hailed Chhetri as the face of Indian football, while India forward Vikram Partap Singh called it an honour and privilege to be able to train with and learn from him.

It is not just his accomplishments on the pitch that set him apart. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he handed over control of his X account – with 1.6 million followers then – to enable “real-life heroes” to “get their messages of support and relief to a wider audience”.

In 2023, he also spoke out against the police’s manhandling of wrestlers who were protesting outside the parliament building against alleged sexual harassment and intimidation.

All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey said of Chhetri: “One of the best strikers India has produced is at his peak with no weaknesses. Words cannot define his greatness on the field and (how he is an) even better human being to ever grace the game.”

Indian football great I.M. Vijayan added: “I consider Chhetri a great player, a terrific motivator and an ideal captain. He is like the M.S. Dhoni of cricket, who has excelled both as a player and a captain. The kind of discipline Chhetri maintained throughout his career has made him a role model.”

Chhetri had a simple response when asked about his legacy.

He said: “When people think about me, I should be remembered as a hard-working person. I could play 150 matches because of it.

“A lot of attributes are required for a player to do well, but this is one characteristic that I want to leave behind.”