“Unreal”: Bangladesh Explodes as Messi Shatters World Cup Record – VIDEO

Lionel Messi

“Unreal”: Bangladesh Explodes as Messi Shatters World Cup Record – VIDEO

Tens of thousands storm university campuses and streets across Dhaka at 7 a.m. to celebrate Argentina’s 3-0 victory and Messi’s historic hat-trick, 17,000 kilometers from the stadium.

Bangladesh, a nation with a population of over 177 million and a deep, almost inexplicable love for Argentina, has once again demonstrated why it might just be the most passionate football country on Earth. As Lionel Messi scored a historic hat-trick against Algeria in the World Cup 2026 opening match, tens of thousands of fans poured into the streets and universities of Dhaka, celebrating as if Argentina was playing in their own backyard. The scenes, which quickly went viral across social media, showed a sea of sky-blue-and-white flags and Argentina jerseys flooding the capital. The epicenter of the celebration was the Daffodil International University (DIU) in Dhaka, where the student center organized a public viewing on a giant screen starting at 7:00 a.m. local time. Despite the early morning hour, the venue was packed with over 2,000 young fans who had stayed awake all night or woken up early to support the Albiceleste.

The atmosphere was electric. Every touch of the ball by the Argentine captain was met with cheers, but the real explosion came when Messi scored his hat-trick—the first of his World Cup career. The achievement also moved him level with Miroslav Klose as the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, a feat that sent the crowd into absolute delirium. “I had a feeling Messi would probably score once, but I never imagined he would produce a hat-trick in the very first game,” one fan recounted, capturing the collective astonishment of millions. Videos show that when the third goal went in, dozens of fans invaded the stage set up for the event, overwhelmed by emotion, waving Argentine flags and chanting “Messi, Messi!” The impact was so significant that a local television anchor came on air wearing an Argentina shirt, showing that the fever had even hit the newsrooms.

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The connection between Bangladesh and Argentina is a unique cultural phenomenon that has puzzled and fascinated the football world for decades. According to estimates, over 70 million people in Bangladesh supported Argentina in the 2022 World Cup—more than the entire population of Argentina itself. This love affair is not merely about winning. It has deep historical roots tracing back to the 1986 World Cup. When Diego Maradona scored the “Hand of God” goal against England, many in Bangladesh—a former British colony that endured a brutal independence war in 1971—saw it as a symbolic victory for the underdog against a former colonial power. Maradona became “a hero for the weak to adore,” a sentiment that has been seamlessly transferred to Messi.

For the younger generation in Bangladesh, the man named Messi is the “GOAT” —a source of motivation and inspiration. One commentator noted that “at nearly 40, Messi continues to accept challenges… He inspires us, he encourages us.” This admiration translates into massive public displays of support, including the construction of a 10-meter-tall replica of an Argentina jersey, dubbed “The Symbol of Craziness,” hung between two buildings in Dhaka.

The joy was not confined to the university campus. Across Dhaka, thousands took to the streets in massive motorcycle processions. Honking horns, blaring trumpets, and the sound of firecrackers filled the air as fans celebrated deep into the night. The passion extended beyond Bangladesh into neighboring India and Pakistan, where similar mass gatherings and watch parties were organized, proving that the love for Messi and Argentina crosses all borders in South Asia.