Bangladesh fans celebrate Messi's World Cup hat-trick with electric fervor.

From the pitch in Buenos Aires to the streets of Dhaka, 17,000 kilometers away, a unique football fervor has taken hold. Diego Maradona ignited this passion decades ago, transforming Bangladesh into a nation of die-hard Argentine fans, while Lionel Messi has now mesmerized a fresh wave of supporters.

In the capital city, the atmosphere was electric even after the giant screens went dark. Thousands of voices roared "Argentina! Argentina! Messi! Messi!" as vuvuzelas blared through the crowd, painting the scene in a sea of sky blue and white. Just moments before, Messi had secured a hat-trick for Argentina in their opening World Cup clash against Algeria. Young men draped in national flags climbed onto each other's shoulders, singing and celebrating long past the final whistle. This scene, which might have seemed like a dream in Argentina, was the gritty reality in Dhaka.

Despite Bangladesh never qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, the nation erupts in celebration every four years when Argentina takes the field. University campuses and local neighborhoods transform into gathering spots with massive screens. Apartment blocks organize all-night watch parties, and streets flood with the colors of La Albiceleste.

For Abdul Hai, a 50-year-old resident of Dhaka, this devotion traces its roots back to 1986. "I fell in love with Maradona in 1986," Hai recalled. "I was very young, but I saw firsthand how people became crazy about him. His style, his passion, his skill – even the 'Hand of God' – everything captivated us like nothing else. He became a legend and a sensation for us."

The wait for Argentina's next World Cup title stretched 36 years until Messi lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022. "But the wait was worth it," Hai said. "After I saw Messi holding the World Cup, I have no regret with football any more. This World Cup I'm watching with deep joy instead of the apprehension I felt in previous tournaments."

Shafiqul Islam Manik, a former coach and player for the Bangladesh national team, noted that Hai's story reflects the broader history of Argentine support in the country. "From what I have seen, it really started in 1986," Manik explained. "Argentina's victory over England after the Falklands War. And then Maradona winning the World Cup changed everything. Watching Maradona's individual brilliance, Bangladesh's football supporters gradually became Argentina supporters."

While Brazil already commanded an enormous following due to its own triumphs and icons, Argentina carved out its own emotional space. "Argentina became the counter to Brazil," Manik said. "Before that, most people in Bangladesh supported Brazil. From 1986 onwards, Argentina began building its own fan base."

Manik believes that Argentina's heartbreak in the 1990 World Cup only cemented this bond. "When Maradona couldn't lift the trophy in 1990 and cried after the final, that touched ordinary people here," he said. "From then on, Argentina's support became firmly established." This emotional connection explains why other giants like Germany or Italy never secured similar followings; Argentina and Brazil had already occupied that space.

This affection has even crossed into diplomatic waters. Marcelo Carlos Cesa, Argentina's ambassador in Bangladesh, has been seen joining fans at public screenings in Dhaka, celebrating victories alongside them. Following the global attention Bangladesh's 2022 celebrations garnered, the government in Buenos Aires reopened its embassy in Dhaka in 2023, ending a 45-year absence.

In 1978, the military dictatorship in Argentina abruptly terminated the diplomatic mission, shuttering the embassy amidst severe budget constraints. Today, the decision to reopen that facility signals a strategic shift driven by expanding diplomatic and commercial interests, yet officials from both nations have also identified football as the vital catalyst for strengthening people-to-people bonds.

While the older generation in Bangladesh still reveres the memory of Diego Maradona, the younger cohort is captivated by Lionel Messi's technical brilliance. Dwin Islam, a private-sector employee, gathered with hundreds of supporters for a massive welcome rally in Dhaka just hours before the team's opening match. "I have loved Argentina since I was a child, especially because of Messi," Islam declared. Unlike his predecessors, he never witnessed Maradona in action. Instead, the atmosphere was electric as supporters beat drums, brandished oversized national flags, and sang as they marched through rain-soaked streets ahead of kickoff.

For others, allegiance is a family legacy passed down through generations. Mohammad Jahir noted that his father has long been an Argentina devotee, and he inherited that loyalty before discovering a personal passion for their playing style. "My father has been a fan of Argentina. I inherited that support," Jahir explained. "Then I started understanding football myself and fell in love with the way they play."

The 2026 World Cup, hosted in the United States, forces matches in Bangladesh to occur in the dead of night. Argentina, having topped their preliminary group, faces Cape Verde on June 4 at 4:00 AM local time. Despite the grueling hours, enthusiasm remains undiminished. "I don't even need an alarm," Jahir laughed. "When Argentina play, I wake up automatically."

Shahanoor Rabbani, a sports journalist and commentator, argues that Bangladesh's dual fascination with Argentina and Brazil mirrors the nation's attraction to enduring sporting heroes. "If we look back in football history, those are the two teams from South America that have done well during and after Bangladesh's independence [in 1971]," Rabbani stated. Since the late 1970s, both nations have claimed World Cup glory, boasting legends from Maradona and Ronaldo to Rivaldo, Neymar, and now Messi. "It's not only the style of football but the players they have. Bangladesh, in general, loves to have a protagonist, a hero, even if it's a team game."

This passion often fractures households. Aiman, a sixth-grade student, identified as a Brazil supporter and admitted his brother forced him to attend the rally for the Argentina-Algeria fixture. "My brother forced me to come," Aiman said, clearly disinterested. His older brother, Salman, acknowledged the domestic conflict. "We argue at home sometimes," Salman admitted. "Our father supports Argentina. And our mother supports Brazil."

These rivalries played out publicly near Dhaka University, where thousands watched Messi score a hat-trick on a giant screen. Amidst a sea of Argentina shirts, a teenage Brazil supporter stood quietly, teased by friends who predicted a draw. "He came saying the match would end in a draw," one laughed.

Among the crowd was political activist Zubaida Islam Jerin, who proudly displayed her pet cat draped in an Argentina jersey. The feline bore the name Messi. Nearby, first-year college student Saikat Hasan marveled at the spectacle, while his friend Mahir looked forward with confidence, declaring, "This time... the World Cup is ours."

Yet, the question of what "ours" truly implies troubles journalist Rabbani. He questions why Bangladesh's immense passion has never translated into tangible footballing success on the global stage.

With a FIFA ranking of 181, the national men's team currently sits far below the potential of its passionate supporter base. Former coach Manik expressed deep mixed emotions regarding this disparity, noting that while the fervor of fans behind Argentina and Brazil is inspiring, the domestic reality remains starkly different.

The core issue lies in a crumbling infrastructure that fails to convert raw enthusiasm into tangible achievement. Manik explained that the nation lacks sufficient fields, modern facilities, and essential academies to nurture talent. Without a clear pathway for aspiring athletes, many young people with dreams of playing the game are left without guidance on how to pursue their ambitions.

The former coach emphasized that Bangladesh once held the foundations for a thriving football culture but failed to construct the necessary systems to build upon them. While the country produced quality players in the past, leadership neglected the crucial task of developing the next generation. Today, the public does not demand an immediate World Cup berth but rather seeks a concrete roadmap showing football moving in the right direction.

Historical precedents suggest that strategic investment can dramatically shift the national mood. Rabbani pointed to the 1997 Cricket World Cup qualification and the 1999 victory over Pakistan as moments that united the entire country in celebration. These events demonstrated that sporting success transcends the field, creating a sense of national pride and collective joy.

The logical question remains whether the government should channel similar resources into football to replicate that feeling of unity. If sports can generate such profound happiness for the populace, then substantial investment seems not just beneficial, but essential for the country's future development.