From Money To Passion: Sunil Chhetri Reflects On His Journey In Football

Sunil Chhetri, one of India's most iconic footballers, has seen it all -- from humble beginnings to becoming the face of Indian football. His journey, which began at Mohun Bagan in 2002, has been a testament to his hard work, dedication, and the sacrifices he made to reach the pinnacle of the sport. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Chhetri opened up about his financial struggles growing up, the burning desire that fueled his career, and the reality of making it big in football. When asked about his initial motivations for pursuing football, Chhetri did not shy away from the truth.

"Oh, it was always money, friend," he said candidly in an exclusive interview to ANI.

For Chhetri, money was the driving force in the early days of his career.

"Money stopped... seven, eight, nine years back. Otherwise, it was always money first," he admitted.

Chhetri explained his financial background, recalling how his father, who served in the army, worked hard to support the family.

"We came from that family where we had enough. But on the 25th, he would go and bring sugar from that house. Go and ask for some flour. And it was vice versa. People used to come from there too. They would ask for sugar, milk, flour," he shared.

Despite having enough to get by, Chhetri's family didn't have the luxury of extravagance.

"We couldn't go out of the lane a little bit. You couldn't say that I need a fancy suit or I need new clothes. You couldn't," he said, reflecting on his humble upbringing. This financial constraint shaped Chhetri's aspirations.

"So when I grew up, I wanted to make money. I made a bigger salary than my father for the first time," he recalled with pride.

The turning point came when Chhetri received his first big paycheck.

"I still