FIFA Speaks Malayalam: Messi’s Record Gets Kerala’s Blessing
The comment section, of the page followed by 63 million people, was flooded with reactions from Malayalis worldwide, many expressing surprise at the post: Reports
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: FIFA celebrated Lionel Messi’s achievement of becoming the highest goal scorer in World Cup history with a Malayalam post on its official social media page.
The post featured a picture of Messi, hands raised toward the sky, with a caption in Malayalam reading “ivanne padachhu vitta kadavulkku pathin 10” (Ten on ten for those who created him). Messi netted two goals in Tuesday’s match against Austria, taking his total to 18 and surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who had 16.
The comment section, of the page followed by 63 million people, was flooded with reactions from Malayalis worldwide, many expressing surprise at the post.
This isn’t the first time FIFA has acknowledged Kerala’s passion for football. During the last World Cup in Qatar, they shared a picture on Instagram of a massive Messi cutout in Malabar. On the final day at the venue, FIFA also made sure to send greetings to Kerala.
Earlier this April, the FIFA World Cup page celebrated Malayalis by posting an image of Lionel Messi with a platter of Vishu Kani in the foreground, along with the Malayalam greeting “Vishu Ashamsakal.” For football fans, especially die-hard Messi supporters, the FIFA post on social media was truly the icing on the cake this soccer season.
