Idukki, 05 June (H.S.): In Kerala, football is more than just a game—it is a passion that unites communities and sparks extraordinary displays of devotion. As the FIFA World Cup draws closer, that passion is once again on full display across the state, with supporters of football giants Argentina and Brazil competing to showcase their loyalty in increasingly spectacular ways.

The latest example comes from the hill district of Idukki, where a group of ardent Argentina supporters has installed a giant cutout of football legend Lionel Messi in the middle of the Vadakkeppuzha Check Dam at Kulamavu.

The towering structure, standing prominently above the waters along the Cheruthoni–Thodupuzha state highway, has quickly become a major attraction for motorists and football fans. It was erected by members of the Kulamavu Argentina Fans Association, including Ananthu Suresh, Vinayak Sunil, Nibin Benny, Bennet Jeejo and Sharon K. Raju.

The group is known for decorating the check dam with giant Argentina flags and football-themed displays during major international tournaments. This year, however, they decided to create something even more eye-catching as excitement builds ahead of the World Cup.

“Messi is an inspiration for millions of football lovers. We wanted to do something special to honour him and show our support for Argentina,” said Ananthu Suresh, one of the association's office-bearers.

The project was funded entirely through contributions from local Argentina supporters and cost around ₹20,000. Installing the giant cutout was a challenging task. Association members first erected a support structure from a boat before transporting the massive cutout into the middle of the check dam and securing it in place.

“It took a lot of planning and teamwork. We are delighted with the response from football fans and local residents. We believe Argentina has a strong chance of lifting the trophy again,” Ananthu said.

The association is also considering organising public screenings of major World Cup matches on a giant screen at Kulamavu, allowing supporters to gather and celebrate together.

Such scenes are not unusual in Kerala, where the World Cup often transforms villages and towns into colourful arenas of football celebration. Giant cutouts, murals, banners and flags of international football stars have become a familiar sight every four years.

While Argentina fans have made headlines with the giant Messi installation, supporters of Brazil are also preparing their own celebrations. Across several districts, Brazilian fans have begun erecting huge flex boards featuring stars such as Neymar, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. Entire neighbourhoods are often draped in Brazil’s iconic yellow and green colours, while football-themed processions and fan gatherings attract thousands.

“Whenever Argentina fans put up something big, Brazil supporters try to come up with something even bigger. It is a friendly rivalry that makes football celebrations in Kerala unique,” said Vinayak Sunil, another member of the association.

The rivalry between Argentina and Brazil supporters in Kerala is legendary, often generating as much excitement as the matches themselves. In previous World Cups, giant cutouts stretching several storeys high and massive team flags spanning entire paddy fields attracted national attention and went viral on social media.

With the World Cup now just days away, football enthusiasts expect even more elaborate displays to emerge across the state. From the backwaters of Alappuzha to the high ranges of Idukki, Kerala is once again proving why it is widely regarded as India's football capital.

For now, however, it is Messi who stands tallest—quite literally—over the waters of Kulamavu, symbolising the unmatched passion and imagination of Kerala's football fans.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman