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Bangladesh's Deep Passion for Messi and Argentina: A Story Beyond Football

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Bangladesh demonstrates immense passion for the Argentine national football team and Lionel Messi, with an estimated 72 million fans.
  • This fervent support, significantly larger than Argentina's population, makes Bangladesh a major international stronghold for the team.
  • The passion stems from Diego Maradona's 1986 World Cup performance, interpreted as a symbolic stand against former colonial powers, and has deepened with Messi's stardom, leading to strengthened bilateral ties.

Bangladesh has emerged as one of the most fervent supporters of the Argentine national football team and its star player, Lionel Messi. Despite being over 17,000 kilometers away, millions in the Asian nation enthusiastically followed Argentina's 3-0 victory against Algeria in their World Cup debut, showcasing how passion for Argentine football transcends borders.

According to Bangladeshi writer and sports commentator Rajib Hasan, approximately 120 million people watch each World Cup, with over 60% supporting Argentina. This translates to around 72 million Bangladeshi fans of La Albiceleste, a figure that dwarfs Argentina's total population and establishes Bangladesh as a primary international bastion for the reigning world champions.

For many younger generations, Lionel Messi is the primary reason for their affection towards Argentina, with fans recalling his time at FC Barcelona. Messi's recent hat-trick against Algeria once again sparked massive celebrations, with thousands of fans gathering at Daffodil International University and various locations in Dhaka to watch the match on giant screens, wave Argentine flags, and cheer as if the victory belonged to their own country.

Around 120 million people follow every World Cup, and more than 60% sympathize with Argentina. This means that around 72 million Bangladeshis are fans of La Albiceleste.

— Rajib HasanThe Bangladeshi writer and sports commentator provided statistics on the scale of football fandom in Bangladesh, specifically regarding support for the Argentine national team.

The connection between Bangladesh and Argentina predates Messi's era, with historians and journalists pinpointing the 1986 Mexico World Cup as a pivotal moment. Diego Maradona's iconic performance, particularly his "Goal of the Century" and "Hand of God" against England, was seen by many Bangladeshis as a symbolic act of defiance against a former colonial power. Bangladesh endured nearly two centuries of British rule, while Argentina also has a complex historical relationship with the UK, notably the 1982 Falklands War. This historical parallel fostered a sense of empathy that football has since strengthened.

The passion displayed during the Qatar 2022 World Cup was so profound that Argentina decided to reopen its embassy in Dhaka after several decades. Since then, bilateral relations have flourished in areas such as trade, culture, and institutional exchange. The Argentine ambassador to Bangladesh, Marcelo Cesa, noted that between 50% and 70% of the population sympathizes with the national team, highlighting the widespread admiration for Messi and the enduring legacy of Maradona.

Between 50% and 70% of the population sympathizes with the Argentine National Team.

— Marcelo CesaThe Argentine ambassador to Bangladesh highlighted the significant level of support for the national team within the country.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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