Lionel Messi: Indian tea-maker creates shrine to Argentina star

In the cricket-obsessed country of India, who would expect to find a shrine to footballer Lionel Messi?

Shib Sankar Patra, a tea-seller in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, is a devout supporter of the Argentine football team. He has painted his entire three-storey house in the colors of the country’s flag. Posters of Messi paper the walls of his home.

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In 2009 Patra painted his home blue and white ahead of Messi's visit to India.

Patra’s passion for football matches the history of his hometown, which hosts one of Asia’s oldest football clubs, Mohun Bagan.

His love for Argentina goes back to 1986, when football superstar Maradona captained the team. About two decades later, Patra was so enchanted by Messi’s skills that he decided to paint his home blue and white ahead of the superstar’s 2009 visit to India.

Ever since then, Patra has been painting his home in the same colors before the World Cup season begins.

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Inside his home, posters of Messi paper the walls of Patra's home.

Patra, 52, has been selling tea for the last 30 years. The tea stall is now a landmark in the neighborhood and is known as the “Argentina dokan” – the Argentina tea shop. With the TV set on the sports channel, his customers watch and discuss football with tea and snacks.

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This year, Patra was planning to go to Russia to see the FIFA World Cup, but fell short of money. He had saved about Rs 70,000 ($1000) but was told that his trip would cost around Rs 150,000 ($2,200).

Gianluca Costantini is famous in his native Italy for his satirical drawings. Here he depicts rival superstar footballers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in advance of the Russia 2018 World Cup. Click or scroll for some of his other depictions of the the key moments of the tournament.

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For the third consecutive match, Croatia was forced to play 120 minutes after this semifinal ended 1-1 in normal time. But unlike in victories over Russia and Denmark, it did not need penalties to decide the outcome as Mario Mandzukic's 109th-minute winner proved decisive.

Twenty years after France first won the World Cup, Les Bleus moved to within one match of repeating the feats of the celebrated team of 1998 by beating Belgium to reach Sunday's final. A set-piece goal from centre-back Samuel Umtiti ensured France will play its first World Cup final since 2006.

Midfielder Luka Modric has played a key role in Croatia advancing to the semifinals. The Real Madrid star scored a brilliant goal against Brazil in the group stage and has been a consistently creative force for Croatia.

Kevin de Bruyne wonder-strike helped Belgium win a compelling quarterfinal against Brazil.

Belgium completed a stunning second-half comeback to rescue its World Cup hopes and crush those of Japan in Rostov-on-Don. Trailing 2-0 in the second half, headers from Jan Vertonghen and Marouane Fellaini hauled Belgium level, before a stunning counterattack saw Nacer Chadli snatch a dramatic last gasp winner with the last kick of the game.

Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic was his team's hero, saving penalties in the shootout from Simon Kjaer, Lasse Schone and Nicolai Jorgensen to inflict a heartbreaking last-16 defeat on Denmark.

Kylian Mbappe ran the show in France's 4-3 last-16 victory over Argentina, scoring twice -- becoming the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to do so -- and winning a penalty for his team's opening goal.

Marcos Rojo's late goal gave Argentina a crucial 2-1 win over Nigeria and sent the South American side through to the last 16 of the World Cup at Russia 2018.

Iago Aspas' deft backheel ensured Spain grabbed a 2-2 draw against Morocco. It was initially ruled out for offside, only for Uzbekistani referee Ravshan Irmatov to award the goal following a VAR review. A point for Spain coupled with a late equalizer for Iran against Portugal meant La Roja topped Group B by virtue of goals scored.

Salem Al-Dawsar scored a late Saudi Arabia winner with the last kick of the game in a 2-1 victory over Egypt to give the Green Falcons their first World Cup victory since 1994.

Toni Kroos' superb free-kick against Sweden delivered a last-gasp winner and brought the Germans the win they desperately needed in the most dramatic fashion to keep the defending champions' World Cup hopes alive.

Romelu Lukaku is having an impressive World Cup. He scored two goals in Belgium's 3-0 win over Panama and grabbed another brace in the 5-2 over Tunisia.

Two delightful goals from the impressive Ahmed Musa secured Nigeria a first victory of the tournament and diminished Iceland's chances of making it into the last 16.

Philippe Coutinho scored one of the goals of the 2018 World Cup in Brazil's opening game against Switzerland with a superb curling shot. The match finished 1-1.

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez scored on his 100th international appearance in Uruguay's 1-0 win against Saudi Arabia. It was the 31-year-old's 52nd goal for his country and one of his simplest, side-footing into the net from six yards following a corner. Suarez also becomes the first Uruguayan to score at three World Cups.

Mo Salah finally made his World Cup bow and scored a goal but the Egyptian could not save his country as the Pharaohs' hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of football's showpiece event were all but ended by a clinical Russia.
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Lionel Messi missed a second-half penalty in Argentina's opening World Cup game -- the 0-0 draw against Iceland.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a barnstorming start to the 2018 World Cup scoring a hattrick in the 3-3 draw against Spain. His third goal was a stunning free-kick in the closing minutes that ensured Portugal secured a point from the game.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane scored his first goal at a World Cup finals in England's 2-1 win over Tunisia. After getting his first he then headed in England's winner.

Hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia were pitted against each other in the World Cup's opening match on Thursday, June 14.

Uruguay's Luis Suarez has history in the World Cup -- the Barcelona forward will hope to avoid controversy in his third tournament, while 45-year-old Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary will be playing in his first.

Argentina and Iceland faced off in the Group D opener on June 16 -- the so-called "Group of Death." Both Sergio "Kun" Aguero of Argentina and Iceland's Gylfi Sigurdsson suffered knee injuries prior to the World Cup.

The Group E match between Brazil and Switzerland ended up in a 1-1 draw.

Moments of the 2018 World Cup

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Patra's home, and his tea stall, is now a landmark in his neighborhood.

Even though he could not travel to Russia, Patra did not lose hope. He has used that money to re-paint and decorate his house.

“I’ll use the remaining money to hold a big celebration for Messi’s birthday, on June 24th,” Patra said.

His daughter Neha Patra added: “My father doesn’t smoke or drink.

“Messi is his only addiction.”

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With Messi turning 31 this month, this World Cup could be his best chance of capturing the one major title that has evaded him.

He’ll be attacking with veteran marksmen Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain – both in their third World Cups – as well as emerging 24-year-old Paulo Dybala.

Argentina is ranked No. 5 in the world and will face Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in the group stages.