Bengal textile mill worker's son Shubho Paul in Bayern Munich’s World Squad

In a historic first for Indian football, Delhi-based I-League club Sudeva FC's 17-year-old striker Shubho Paul has been chosen to be a part of Bayern Munich's Under-19 World Squad.

The programme, run by the German and European football giants Bayern, is a two-step initiative led by Bayern legend and World Cup winner Klaus Augenthaler and Christopher Loch - the Bavarian club's coach of international programmes.

The first phase was a global talent hunt to cherry-pick 15 players from scores of applicants from all around the world. Shubho made it to the final shortlist.

In the second phase, the group will first travel to Mexico to play against various Mexican youth teams before moving to Munich for a training camp and several matches against different Bundesliga youth teams, including Bayern's own U-19 squad.

The Bayern World Squad will be on tour from June 28 to July 10. Players who impress over the course of the entire camp may stay in Germany longer and the opportunity to bag a professional contract with Bayern is also a possibility.

The entire project will also be made into a six-part documentary series, giving each member of the World Squad substantial exposure.

For Shubho Paul, who dreams of playing in the UEFA Champions League one day, the selection is a big step forward.

“I want to believe I can play in the Champions League. The Sudeva management trusts me. If they are supporting me this much, I shouldn’t make them regret their call,” Shubho Paul told the Hindu.

Shubho’s selection already has India’s football fraternity buzzing. Even West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee extended her wishes.

Who is Shubho Paul and what makes him special?

Born in Salkia, Howrah, in the Indian state of West Bengal, Shubho Paul hails from a humble background. His father still works as a textile mill worker.

Shubho started playing football at the age of six, inspired by his elder brother Raju Paul - who himself wanted to play professional football.

But seeing his younger brother's talent for the game, Raju - 10 years older than Shubho - gave up his own dreams and took up a job at the Howrah municipal corporation to support his little sibling's career.

His brother's sacrifice, Shubho Paul says, has been the chief driving force behind his surge in Indian football.

As a kid, Shubho Paul played barefoot because his family couldn't afford to buy him football boots. But that changed soon enough courtesy Kolkata football legend, Chima Okorie.

The Nigerian striker, who scored 100-plus goals playing for Kolkata giants East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting during his playing days, was at a local ground conducting trials. A young Shubho Paul was watching from the sidelines.

Chima Okorie would go on to ask Shubho Paul to join in. What followed was nothing short of a Cinderella story.

Shubho, playing barefoot against boys much senior to him, scored goals with gay abandon and Okorie, a prolific striker himself, was mighty impressed. Not only did Chima Okorie buy Shubho Paul his first football boots and kit but also took the young forward under his wings.

With Okorie's guidance opening up avenues for him, Shubho Paul was among the first players to be picked for Bengaluru FC's academy through trials.

However, Bengaluru's academy, at the time, was not a residential one and he had to stay at a hotel. Shubho Paul returned to Kolkata and was soon picked by East Bengal and Sudeva. He opted to join Sudeva.

The decision bore fruit as the Bengal striker scored several goals across various age groups for Sudeva.

In fact, Shubho has scored 87 times in 41 matches since becoming an AIFF-registered player - a testament to his goal-scoring prowess which eventually saw him picked for Bayern's World Squad.

He has also represented India at the Under-16 levels and played a crucial role in India qualifying for the now-postponed 2020 AFC Under-16 Championships in Bahrain. He scored three in three qualifying games.

Shubho made his senior debut for Sudeva FC in the club's maiden I-League appearance in 2021 and scored two in eight appearances.

Despite his tender age, the Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski fan was even given the captain's armband by Sudeva head coach Chencho Dorji towards the end of the season.

Perhaps what sets Shubho apart from the rest is his undulating belief in his abilities and daring mindset to reach for goals very few would.

“If I keep playing like this, one day I will definitely become a better footballer than Sunil Chhetri,” Shubho told ANI.

With the Bayern stint coming up, the teenager has the perfect launching pad to reach up for his lofty dreams.