Fifa World Cup 2022: Messi fans in South Asia overjoyed after Argentina’s semi-final win
- Argentina has a lot of passionate fans in Bangladesh and India since the days of Maradona, one of the greatest to play football, and a global icon to many
- Flags, huge cut-outs, trumpets, songs and dancing – delighted supporters found many ways to express themselves before and after Argentina’s victory
Soccer fan Gazi Jahidul Haque was struggling to hide his concern before the Argentina and Croatia World Cup semi-final at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium.
Haque was watching the game in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
“This World Cup is not only important for Argentina, but also for Messi,” the 35-year-old lawyer said before the game, his voice barely audible as thousands behind him thronged to watch the match in front of a giant television screen at the University of Dhaka in the capital’s centre.
It was midnight Wednesday in Dhaka and by the time the final whistle blew with Argentina beating Croatia 3-0, Haque’s worries had long dissipated. Argentina was to be in the World Cup final, just a win away from capturing the game’s greatest prize.
The win meant Haque would get to see Messi – a player widely regarded as one of the game’s best – one more time at the World Cup. The celebrations began.
Fans poured onto the streets in Dhaka waving Argentina flags and wearing the team’s sky blue and white jersey. Amid blaring trumpets, they chanted Messi’s name and hugged each other. Some held motorbike rallies. Others broke into song and dance. A young man rode a rickshaw, his body painted in Argentinian colours.