Fans dive 100 feet into the ocean to put up a Lionel Messi cutout ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final
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Argentina, with the help of Lionel Messi, booked its place in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup final. Although India hasn’t gotten the opportunity or reached the level to play on the grand stage yet, Indian fans seem to have developed a huge obsession with the sport. Massive rallies and posters would cover the skies when their favorite team would win. This time the world’s favorite Lionel Messi- who enjoys an exceptional fan following in India, is in the finals. His fans from the Southern region of the country have gone a step further to showcase their love for him.
Viral video clips and photos have been surfacing on the internet. As per reports, a recent crazy gesture of football fanatics from the Kavaratti island in Lakshadweep showed the fans diving 100ft deep, into the sea to put a large Lionel Messi cut-out as a token of support for the little magician. Since the big event kicked off in November huge posters and murals of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar put out on the streets of the southern part of India, most certainly for its larger attribution towards the beautiful game unlike the rest of the country.
However, France and other teams who have played a successful campaign at the Qatar World Cup have somehow lost their reputation of being a football giant in the eyes of the Indian audience. As there were no such scenes coming out from India in support of those who play for these countries as if they detested the chances of them lifting the Golden trophy.
Fans have yet again proved that no boundaries whatsoever can stop their will to support their favorite football stars as their own country has not yet taken the centre stage. Huge samples of support and display of ardent football fanatics for football icons such as Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo, were reported and were viral over social media.
Why is India in full support of Lionel Messi & Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
India, and the south Asiatic region, is known more for its love of cricket as the countries have never participated in major international football tournaments. However, every four years, in corners of India and across Bangladesh, the fever of football reaches its pinnacle with the onset of the FIFA World Cup. Without their own national squads to support, fans instead have developed decades-long ardent support for other teams; none more so than an enduring love for Argentina, the team of football greats Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
The obsession with football in Indian states such as Kerala and West Bengal dates back hundreds of years, to the times of the British Raj when it was among the soldiers. Though never qualified for a World Cup, India is home to some of the oldest football clubs in the world. Kerala, India’s most football-inspired state was ruled by a socialist government for decades, the mammoth love of Argentina’s national team was partly credited to the revolutionary legacy of the Latin American country, which now has fierce support in the Indian state.
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Akshat Pandey
(275 Articles Published)