Photos that prove India loves Lionel Messi

Clay idols and cutouts

During the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, as is common during the FIFA World Cup every 4 years, the fever once again gripped India but this time it was focussed around one man - Lionel Messi. As large crowds in India gathered to support Argentina and especially their captain, others made clay idols of Messi or carried cutouts of their favourite player in the streets.

Indian fans were celebrating every touch Messi had on the ball in 2014. Here’s a fan's raucous celebration after Messi scored for his nation against Iran.

Here’s another fan donning the easily recognisable number 10 jersey, walking away after Argentina's victory against Iran in the same game.

Posters everywhere

If supporting the team wasn’t enough, many parts of India had massive political campaign sizes of posters of Messi plastered around cities or painted on the walls. Many of them often sights to behold because of their sheer size.

Not even the bonnets of cars were spared. Two of Argentina's heroes Diego Maradona and Messi both feturing in there artworks.