FIFA Shares Photo Of Cut Outs Of Messi, Ronaldo On Kerala River. CM Vijayan Reacts

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Twitter to thank FIFA.com for acknowledging 'Kerala's love and unmatched passion for football.'

The trend started with Argentina fans who first placed a massive cut out of Lionel Messi right on the riverbank. ( Image Source :Screengrab taken from Twitter )

New Delhi: A 'cut out' war unleashed in India just days ahead for FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Giant cut outs of football legends Lionel Messi, talisman Cristiano Ronaldo and magician Neymar Jr popped up in Kerala's Pullavoor river. The trend started with Argentina fans who first placed a massive cut out of Lionel Messi right on the riverbank. The pics and videos of the same became an instant hit on social media which immediately spurred Neymar Jr fans into action and in the next few days, an even larger cut out of the Brazilian footballer was installed just ahead of Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo has a 'mind-boggling fan following' all over the world including in India. His fans quickly joined the trend by unveiling the biggest cut out yet, overshadowing the cut outs of both Neymar and Messi.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Twitter to thank FIFA.com for acknowledging 'Kerala's love and unmatched passion for football.'

"Kerala and Keralites have always loved football and it is on full display with #Qatar2022 around the corner. Thank you @FIFAcom for acknowledging our unmatched passion for the sport," Kerala CM Vijayan wrote in the caption of his tweet.

Kerala and Keralites have always loved football and it is on full display with #Qatar2022 around the corner. Thank you @FIFAcom for acknowledging our unmatched passion for the sport. https://t.co/M4ZvRiZUvh

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) November 8, 2022

For the first time ever, FIFA World Cup 2022 is being played in the Arab World and the second time the tournament is being hosted by an Asian nation. 

"The World Cup is always a festival of football, a real celebration for the fans who come on-site and watch. In Qatar, with the compact nature, this is going to be amplified even more with 32 teams and 32 sets of supporters all in and around Doha," FIFA Chief Tournaments and Events Officer, Colin Smith was quoted as saying in the statement.

"The tournament's compact nature -- with no air travel needed to move between the venues -- will allow organisers, for the first time, to optimise specific match demands for the benefit and comfort of fans, teams and media," the statement read further.

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