Nueva Delhi: West Bengal Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee received a shirt signed by the Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi.
Taking X, Banerjee said: “Football is a passion that crosses my veins, just like all people in Bengala who once kicked a ball in the fields ‘for’. Today, that passion found a special place when I received a shirt signed by no less than Lionel Messi.”
She described Messi as an “artist with the ball” and a “master of our times”, adding that the shirt represents the “unwavering connection between Bengal and the beautiful game.”
This is not the first time that a global football icon recognizes Bengala’s passion for the game. In October 2023, the Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho visited Mamata Banerjee in his residence in Kalighat during his two -day trip to Kolkata. His visit saw officials of the three best Bengal clubs: Mohun Bagan, Eastern Bengaland Muhammad SC, pressing it with their respective shirts.
Football occupies a special place in Bengal’s sports culture, with fierce rivalries between clubs such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and MAHOMA SC. The love for sport has been evident in the enthusiasm of the State for national and international football events.
In addition, in September 2023, during a visit to Spain, Banerjee met with the president of the League, Javier Tebas, which led to an agreement to establish a Soccer Academy in Western Bengal.