On the streets of Dhaka, the colours never truly fade. Rickshaws roll through crowded roads painted in sky blue and white. Giant Argentine flags stretch across neighbourhoods.
Some supporters even paint entire buildings in the colours of the Albiceleste. Thousands of miles from Buenos Aires, football fans in Bangladesh continue to invest their hopes and memories in one man: Lionel Messi.
That connection faces another test as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches. On 24 May, concern swept through Argentina supporters when Messi left the pitch clutching his leg.
Early assessments pointed towards muscular fatigue rather than a serious injury, easing fears without removing them completely. At 38, every setback attracts attention. Every appearance feels more valuable.
The question now hangs over Argentina and much of the football world: can Messi pull it off one more time?
To understand why that question resonates so strongly in Bangladesh, it helps to revisit the origins of this remarkable relationship. Argentina’s popularity in Bangladesh grew rapidly during the era of Diego Maradona.
The 1986 World Cup in Mexico transformed admiration into devotion. Maradona inspired Argentina to glory through a series of unforgettable performances. For many Bangladeshis, Argentina represented resilience, flair and the ability to challenge established powers on the biggest stage.
That affection passed from one generation to the next. Parents who celebrated Maradona introduced their children to Messi. During every World Cup, Bangladesh turns into a sea of Argentine colours. The support remains as passionate today as it was four decades ago.
Messi’s journey to the summit never followed a straight path.
For years, comparisons with Maradona followed him everywhere. His brilliance at club level seemed beyond dispute, yet international success remained elusive. Argentina came painfully close in Brazil in 2014 before Mario Götze’s extra-time goal handed Germany the World Cup.
The suffering continued. Argentina lost the 2015 Copa América final to Chile on penalties. They lost the 2016 final to the same opponents in the same fashion. Those defeats cut deeply. Messi briefly stepped away from international football after the second loss, exhausted by criticism and disappointment.
Supporters in Argentina and Bangladesh endured every setback with him. They waited for the breakthrough that many feared might never arrive.
Rather than building a team that depended entirely on Messi, Scaloni created a collective capable of competing in every phase of the game. Argentina pressed aggressively, defended with discipline and attacked with purpose.
The transformation brought immediate rewards. Argentina won the 2021 Copa America, ending a 28-year trophy drought. They followed it by defeating Italy in the Finalissima before conquering the world in Qatar.
Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina in their opening match of the 2022 World Cup and critics questioned the squad’s credentials. Argentina responded by regrouping and marching to the title. Messi delivered moments of genius, but Scaloni’s greatest achievement lay in building a team willing to run, press and suffer together.
Argentina arrive at the 2026 World Cup with a familiar mix of belief and doubt. Injuries have disrupted preparations, and supporters hope Messi’s recent fitness scare proves insignificant.
Yet this squad no longer relies solely on its captain. Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez provide energy and structure, while Nico Paz, Thiago Almada and Giuliano Simeone add youth and intensity.
Argentina do not need Messi to carry every match as he once did. They need him to decide the defining moments. That remains his greatest gift.
For many supporters, this campaign extends beyond trophies. Messi already secured the one prize that escaped him for so long and cemented his place among football’s greatest figures.
Yet fans still dream of one more chapter.
They dream because Maradona lifted Argentina to glory in 1986. They dream because Messi finally conquered the world in 2022. They dream because Scaloni has built a team capable of challenging anyone.
From the painted rickshaws of Bangladesh to the stadiums of North America, the hope remains alive. As another World Cup approaches, millions still ask the same question: can Messi deliver one final masterpiece?
