'Football runs through my veins': Mamata Banerjee receives jersey signed by Lionel Messi, calls him 'artist with the ball'
Times of India | 20 March 2025
She noted that football is a deeply ingrained passion in Bengal and praised Messi as a symbol of the sport’s brilliance. NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed her admiration for Argentine football legend Lionel Messi after receiving a jersey autographed by him.
Calling Messi an “artist with the ball”, Banerjee said the jersey symbolises Bengal’s deep-rooted passion for football.
"Football is a passion that runs through my veins, much like every person in Bengal who has ever kicked a ball on the 'para' fields. Today, that passion found a special place as I received a jersey signed by none other than Lionel Messi," Banerjee wrote on X.
She further stated that the love for football unites people across Bengal and that Messi, as a maestro of the sport, represents the brilliance that Bengalis admire. “This jersey is a symbol of the unbreakable connection between Bengal and the beautiful game,” she added.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed admiration for Argentine football legend Lionel Messi after receiving an autographed jersey.Mamata Banerjee described Messi as an 'artist with the ball' and emphasized the deep-rooted passion for football in Bengal.The chief minister stated that the signed jersey symbolizes the unbreakable connection between Bengal and the beautiful game of football.