ANI
25 Jun 2025, 00:47 GMT+10
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)
Get a daily dose of Yorkshire Observer news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Yorkshire Observer.
More InformationSAO PAULO, Brazil: Brazil is taking confident steps to restore its dominance in global poultry exports after declaring its commercial...
Tel Aviv [Israel], June 25 (ANI): Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has announced that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been...
Washington DC [US], June 25 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) expressed his satisfaction in stopping 'THE WAR'...
ABU DHABI, 24th June, 2025 (WAM) -- UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call today with His...
Washington [US], June 25 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has said that Iran is not going to have a nuclear weapon and is 'going to...
New Delhi [India], June 24 (ANI): The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has expressed disappointment and concern about...
Leeds [UK], June 24 (ANI): Former captain Nasser Hussain believes Ben Duckett is already right up in the conversation of the best all-time...
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 24 (ANI): Kolkata's Argentina Football Fan Club once again combined passion and tradition to celebrate...
Leeds [UK], June 24 (ANI): England's flamboyant batter Ben Duckett became only the second opener after former captain Alastair Cook...
Leeds [UK], June 24 (ANI): The Indian and England cricket teams observed silence and wore black armbands on Day 5 of the ongoing Test...
CHENGDU, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Jin Dong, 23, may have never read Faust, but he's among the first to play faustball on the Chinese mainland....
(250624) -- MIAMI, June 24, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Palmeiras' Estevao arrives at the stadium before the group A match between Inter Miami...