Lionel Messi fans in Kolkata celebrate the Argentine maestro's 38th birthday
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 24 (ANI): Kolkata's Argentina Football Fan Club once again combined passion and tradition to celebrate football legend Lionel Messi's 38th birthday, in a heartwarming display of admiration and loyalty. The celebration, which has become an annual tradition for over two decades, drew a large gathering of fans on Tuesday.
This year's festivities were held at a local club ground adorned with sky blue and white flags--the colours of the Argentina national team. Messi's iconic No. 10 jersey was prominently displayed, and a 5-by-3-foot cake featuring the Argentine flag was the centrepiece of the event.
Chants of 'Messi! Messi!' rang out as fans sang birthday songs, waved flags, and paid tribute to the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
'What started with a few fans coming together in the early 2000s has grown into a huge community of Messi devotees. He may be miles away, but in our hearts, he is one of us. This celebration is our way of showing love and gratitude to the man who has given us so much joy,' said club organiser Uttam Saha
The event also featured screenings of Messi's greatest goals, quiz competitions based on his career, and fans dressed in Argentina jerseys.
Despite being thousands of kilometres away from Rosario, the spirit of the Argentine maestro was alive and kicking in Kolkata. Children, teenagers and even elderly fans joined in, with many wearing Messi masks and face cakes to show their support.
When the giant cake was finally cut amid cheers and applause, one fan said it best: Three cheers for Argentina hip hip hurray.
Uttam Saha, Founding Secretary of the Argentina Football Fan Club in Kolkata, shared the club's vision behind the annual celebration.
'I think the whole objective of this celebration is to promote football amongst every single youngster out there who dreams to becoming a footballer, who watches Lionel Messi score from 30 metres outside of the goal. I think that is the dream, that is what the objective of this organisation is. We shall continue to celebrate this man every single year,' Uttam Saha said. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
20 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Kylian Mbappe to wear jersey No. 10 for Real Madrid?
Kylian Mbappe could soon start wearing the iconic jersey No. 10 for Real Madrid, according to the newspaper Marca. 10 is his number when he plays for France and played for PSG, but since Luka Modric had that number for Real Madrid, Mbappe played wearing No. 9. He didn't do badly either, scoring 43 goals, top scoring at La Liga, and winning the European Golden Boot. But Marca reports that this likely switch isn't at the behest of the player but is coming from the Real Madrid club itself. 'It would be an update to the personal and club image of a player who, aside from his sporting performance, is a true money-making machine for the club in terms of image rights. And, in this sense, inheriting the number 10 from Modric, a Ballon d'Or winner, would boost his brand in every way,' Marca states. Mbappe is currently recovering from a bout of gastroenteritis that made him miss initial games at the Club World Cup; it's reported that he has lost at least 5-6 kgs. 👕 A special shirt for a special day! 🌟 @KMbappe #WelcomeMbappé — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) July 16, 2024 In July 2024, when he joined Real Madrid, he was unveiled in front of a packed Santiago Bernabeu crowd of over 25,000 fans. Mbappe who was handed the No.9 jersey waved to the fans, embraced club president Pérez and former Madrid player and coach Zinedine Zidane, who invited Mbappé to visit the Spanish club for the first time when he was just a teenager. 'It's incredible day for me. Since being a kid I dreamed about playing for Madrid and today I'm here. It means a lot to me,' the French superstar said then. The message 'Welcome, Mbappé' was shown on the large video boards at the Bernabeu. Some of the club's most iconic moments were also shown while the song 'Nessun Dorma' was played on the loudspeakers. Images of Mbappe's career were also displayed, as well as photos including Mbappé wearing Madrid's uniform as a kid and posing alongside former club star Cristiano Ronaldo The club had also tweeted out his jersey no 9 then.
NDTV
25 minutes ago
- NDTV
FIFA Launch Probe Into Antonio Rudiger Racism Allegation
FIFA has opened a disciplinary investigation into Pachuca's Gustavo Cabral after allegations he made a racist comment to Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger, the global football governing body said Tuesday. The incident came towards the end of the game between the two teams at the Club World Cup on Sunday. "Following an assessment of the match reports, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against CF Pachuca player Gustavo Cabral in relation to the incident involving him and Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger during the FIFA Club World Cup game played in Charlotte on 22 June," FIFA said on Tuesday. Rudiger was visibly angered following an exchange of words with Argentine Cabral and spoke to Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti Abel. Cabral denied he had racially abused the German centre-back. Asked about the incident in the post-match press conference, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said: "In football there is no tolerance for this, and if it happened, then measures should be taken. This is what Antonio has told us and we believe him. It's being investigated now". Cabral, 39, spoke after the game and said his words had been misinterpreted by Rudiger. The Argentine said he had called the defender a "coward", with the Spanish phrase he used similar to another which is linked to racist abuse. "The referee made the racism sign but I was telling him the same thing the whole time -- (coward)," said Cabral.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
1960s teen idol, actor Bobby Sherman passes away at 81, wife shares emotional note
Washington DC [US], June 25 (ANI): Bobby Sherman, a teen idol of the late 1960s and early '70s, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 81. His wife, Brigette Poublon Sherman, confirmed the demise of the teen idol. She announced three months ago that the entertainer had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, reported Variety. In posting the news of his death to Instagram on Tuesday morning, Poublon Sherman wrote, "It is with the heaviest heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Bobby Sherman. Bobby left this world holding my hand, just as he held up our life with love, courage, and unwavering grace through all 29 beautiful years of marriage. I was his Cinderella, and he was my Prince Charming. Even in his final days, he stayed strong for me. That's who Bobby was--brave, gentle, and full of light." Poublan Sherman recalled the last moments of pop idol Bobby Sherman and said she read fan letters to her husband to remind him of how deeply he was "cherished" by his lovers worldwide. "As he rested, I read him fan letters from all over the world -- words of love and gratitude that lifted his spirits and reminded him of how deeply he was cherished. He soaked up every word with that familiar sparkle in his eye. And yes, he still found time to crack well-timed jokes -- Bobby had a wonderful, wicked sense of humour. It never left him. He could light up a room with a look, a quip, or one of his classic one-liners," wrote Poublan Sherman. Sherman's wife pointed to how he had reinvented himself in his post-idol decades, finding new roles far from the screen or concert stage. "He was a man of service. He traded sold-out concerts and magazine covers for the back of an ambulance, becoming an EMT and a trainer with the LAPD. He saved lives. He showed us what real heroism looks like -- quiet, selfless, and deeply human." His friend John Stamos confirmed the news, reposting Brigitte's message and adding, "From one ex-teen idol to another -- rest in peace Bobby Sherman." The news had been anticipated ever since his wife revealed to fans in social media posts in late March and early April that the entertainer had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, explaining why he would no longer be able to make personal appearances, reported Variety. Sherman came to fame as a regular for two seasons on the ABC series "Here Come the Brides" in 1968-1970 and quickly parlayed that into an even bigger career as a singing star. Sherman's fan base primarily included adolescent and pre-teen girls for his hit singles and television appearances. With his suitable-for-wall-pasting photo spreads in magazines like Tiger Beat and 16, Sherman was rivalled only by Donny Osmond and David Cassidy in his power to mesmerise with a soothing voice and cuddly good looks, reported Variety. As per the outlet, at his peak, in 1969-70, the singer had four singles reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and achieve gold-selling status. It included 'Little Woman' (No. 3), 'La La La (If I Had You)' (No. 9), 'Easy Come, Easy Go' (No. 9) and 'Julie, Do Ya Love Me' (No. 5). (ANI)
