- Title: Indian village welcomes the World Cup with giant cutouts of Messi and Neymar
- Date: 6th November 2022
- Summary: PULLAVOOR, KERALA, INDIA (NOVEMBER 5, 2022) (ANI - No use India) VARIOUS OF GIANT CUTOUTS OF BRAZILIAN SOCCER PLAYER NEYMAR AND ARGENTINE SOCCER PLAYER LIONEL MESSI INSTALLED ON RIVER PEOPLE TAKING PHOTOS OF GIANT CUTOUTS OF NEYMAR AND MESSI GIRLS TAKING SELFIE WITH GIANT CUTOUTS OF NEYMAR AND MESSI GIANT CUTOUTS OF NEYMAR AND MESSI VARIOUS OF GIANT CUTOUT OF MESSI REFLECT
- Embargoed: 20th November 2022 10:53
- Keywords: India Lionel Messi Neymar Jr. cutout soccer village world cup
- Location: PULLAVOOR, KERALA, INDIA
- City: PULLAVOOR, KERALA, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001731506112022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Soccer fans in a small village in southern India's Kerala put up giant cutouts of Lionel Messi and Neymar on a local river to celebrate the upcoming World Cup.
The 30-feet-tall cutout of Messi went viral as soon as it debuted on social media. Brazil fans from the state then quickly came up with a bigger cutout of Neymar, 40-feet-tall, and placed it next to the Argentine captain.
"We never thought it would blow up and we would get so much fame," said soccer fan Zumair, who only gives his first name.
To elevate the friendly rivalries further, Portugal fans in Pullavoor village said they also plan to install a similar cutout of Portuguese forward and five time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo soon.
Along with the cutouts of the soccer superstars, fans also installed cutouts of the World Cup trophy.
"I am really happy that a Neymar cutout was raised. And these five World Cups (cutouts of trophies) …actually this is a highlight here…Argentina fans, they do not have something like this to display. So this is very happy for me," said Anthony, a proud Brazil fan.
This year's World Cup is scheduled to kick off in Qatar on November 20.
(Production: Adib Satikin, Phyllis Xu) - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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