As the political landscape of West Bengal continues to go through a sea change due to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading the race over Trinamool Congress (TMC) party in the Assembly elections, Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi has found himself in the news mysteriously and notably trending on the social media platform of X. With the counting of votes for West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 underway, it is worth exploring why is the 38-year-old trending.
Why is Lionel Messi being linked to the political change within West Bengal?
The visit of Lionel Messi to a state has transcended the realm of sports to become a socio-political symbol marking important shifts in the regional political landscape. Notably, Messi’s previous visit in 2011 coincided with a pivotal moment when Mamata Banerjee, a vibrant and youthful leader, rose to power, ending the 34-year reign of the Left Front Government. This event not only highlighted a change in governance but also symbolized the emergence of a new political era.
It was in 2025 when Messi yet again visited India and one of the touring cities was Kolkata but his visit to the Salt Lake Stadium was cut short as the World Cup-winning captain’s safety came under the scanner. Fans were angry to the point of vandalising the stadium, given the mismanagement that took place. With Messi’s visit a few months old now, Mamata Banarjee is unlikely to continue her reign as the State’s Chief Minister.
Here are some of netizens’ reactions:
September 2011 : Lionel Messi arrives in Kolkata. 4 months earlier,the Left government in West Bengal fell after 34 years
December 2025 : Lionel Messi arrives in Kolkata.5 months later,TMC government in West Bengal falls after 15 years #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/A6GesFgkDT
— Arnav Singh (@Arnavv43) May 4, 2026
Thank you Lionel Messi.
Your Bengal event exposed TMC’s jungle raj so well, people voted BJP today.
My Goat❤️ pic.twitter.com/tRlvAdzQ3I
— Navaneeth Kulal (@nkrockzz88) May 4, 2026
A little boy from Rosario changed the politics of West Bengal Forever
My Goat 💜 pic.twitter.com/5q1c78V8Eb
— adi. (@Hurricanrana_27) May 4, 2026
Messi came to Kolkata in 2011 and changed the West Bengal government.
Messi came to Kolkata again in 2025 and changed the WB govt again.
Goat has unreal powers 🫡🐐 pic.twitter.com/52MqRtyxXx
— sohom (@AwaaraHoon) May 4, 2026
West Bengal and Football: A match made in heaven
West Bengal is often considered as the Mecca of Indian football, with ingrained passion for the sport. Some of the most famous football clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting also hail from the sport, with the teams enjoying storied rivalries dating back to old days. The Salt Lake Stadium has staged several Kolkata Derby games between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.
As far as Santosh Trophy is concerned, the West Bengal football team is the most successful one in history, appearing in the finals on 47 occasions.
