According to his own acknowledgment, the iconic Indian football figure Sunil Chhetri finds himself in the "bonus period" of his distinguished career, but he has not specified a retirement date. However, it is definite that Chhetri, at the age of 39, will not be participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
"I'm just happy that I'm here. This is the bonus period, I'm just enjoying it, I don't know when it's going to end. I just want to enjoy it," Chhetri said ahead of India's 2026 World Cup second-round qualifiers matches.
"Because I'm 39, I don't have long-term targets as far as me being on the pitch is concerned. I think about the next three months, and then the next three months, and then we see how it goes," he was quoted as saying by fifa.com.
India have been placed in Group A, alongside Qatar, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. They will face Kuwait in an away match on November 16, followed by a match against Qatar in Bhubaneswar on November 21.
The winners and runners-up from each of the nine groups will progress to the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. In the third round, the 18 teams will be split into three groups, each consisting of six teams.
The top two teams from each group in the third round will qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, the third and fourth-placed teams will advance to the fourth round, which will determine two more Asian qualifiers for the prestigious tournament.
Chhetri will be nearly 42 years old when the next FIFA World Cup takes place in June 2026, and he is realistic enough to accept that he may not be able to play in the tournament.
"When I dream, I dream more as an Indian, more as a fan. Me being there in any capacity, it doesn't matter, because I know I'll be a fan. I'll be watching every game that India plays and rooting for my country”, Chhetri said.
"Right now, I feel really good physically. I can see that I do contribute to the team, both for my country and my club. As long as I'm enjoying it, I will be here.
"I don't know how many days, how many months, how many years that will be. The day I stop enjoying it, and the day I can't contribute, I will be done."
Having made his debut in 2005, Chhetri has represented India 143 times and scored 93 goals, a record for any Indian player. He currently holds the position of being the third-highest goal scorer in international football among active players, with only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi ahead of him.
Chhetri mentioned that under the guidance of head coach Igor Stimac, who assumed the role in 2019, the national team has made significant progress.
"If you see our performances, four years back and now, anyone will tell you there is a good jump. And that is something that has happened because of Igor Stimac and the entire team. Everyone has chipped in together, and everyone has pulled each other up”, he continued.
"He (Stimac) is more than a coach, he is more like a father figure – or an elder brother for people like me who are fossils – to everyone. He understands and takes that part of his coaching job very seriously.
"He knows the psyche, he understands what a player is going through, what he needs. That is why you will see all the players are very happy with him," said Chhetri about Stimac who helped Croatia finish third in the 1998 World Cup.
Outside of the football pitch, Chhetri and his wife, Sonam Bhattacharya, welcomed their son, Dhruv, in August. Chhetri noted that this life-changing event has shifted his perspective.
"For the first five days, I didn't sleep because of excitement. I was awake the whole night just looking at him and talking to him. On the sixth day, my wife told me I had to sleep in a different room as she was worried I was too tired and was going to get injured.
"It's such an experience which can only be felt. Once you hold your baby, it is unbelievable. When I held my son for the first time, everything about you changes, the way you think about life changes.
"I just want to go back home wherever I am. Whenever I am going for an away trip, I just want to finish the games and go back home." India is unlikely to qualify for the 2026 World Cup despite 48 teams competing with Asia getting eight direct slots, but Chhetri said it will be a humongous achievement if it happens.
"When that happens, the country will go mad. As an Indian, it's going to be one of the best days of my life. I have so many dreams about that day. It is going to be humongous.
"The anticipation, the hope that it will bring to the complete nation is something that I know I will never forget in my life. There are so many people like me who can't wait to see that day, and I just hope it comes soon for us”, the Indian football captain concluded.
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