Arjen Robben back from retirement, back from injury and back to national team?

To say that veteran superstar Arjen Robben had a successful career would be an understatement. The Dutchman was one of the best wingers the world has ever seen. Sublime skill, electric pace, the ability to get past defenders as if they aren’t even there – Robben had the lot. And he still has a burning desire to show his talent off while helping his beloved club.

The former PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich playmaker quit football in 2019 but re-joined Eredivisie club FC Groningen in 2020, the side with which he started his playing career.

The 37-year-old has missed the majority of this season with an injury but made his first start for seven months against FC Emmen on Sunday, and made two assists in the 4-0 win. Speaking after the game, the tricky dribbler was overwhelmed with emotions as he spoke about the joy and the passion he still feels for the game.

"I have come a long way. This is what I wanted. I want to help this club and I want to play football. If I can and succeed, then I am very happy. It has been a long and hard road. It was tough and difficult but I kept fighting. The reward has to come sometime. I had fun, like a child, and it was also important to the team today."

The 2010 World Cup finalist retired from playing for the Netherlands in 2017 after winning 96 caps and scoring 37 goals for his country. Four years later, he says that he would accept another call-up if the national team still has a need for his services. He’d say yes to the Netherlands manager Frank de Boer should a call for the upcoming European Championship arrive.

"Then I would go. It would be fun, that’s for sure. But you must be realistic You have to be very fit to contribute to the team. Playing for the Dutch national team is a step up. Going to Euro 2020 is somewhere in my wildest dreams, but you must be very careful because I can already see tomorrow's headlines! Right now, I'm not saying I want to go, but if De Boer should call, I'd say yes."

Watching Arjen Robben in an orange shirt of the Dutch national team again isn’t very likely. But after everything we’ve seen in the past 18 months – we cannot rule it out just yet!