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A passionate supporter of Lionel Messi from Kerala was left in awe after receiving a personal message from the football superstar. Messi, who recently turned 39 while representing Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026, has a massive following in Kerala, where fans celebrate his birthday with great enthusiasm.

The captain of the 2022 World Cup-winning team enjoys immense popularity in the southern Indian state, evident from the numerous murals, large cutouts, and a sea of fans donning the national colors of Argentina.

As the World Cup festivities unfolded, Messi's fans in Kerala organized grand celebrations for his birthday. Among them was Yadil M Iqbal from Kodungallur, who shared a heartfelt tribute on social media.

On June 24, Yadil posted a video on Instagram showcasing murals painted on a wall and his car, along with a statue of Messi that he had erected as a tribute to his idol.

In his post, Yadil expressed his admiration with a touching message: "Happy birthday to my idol @leomessi. Lots of love from Kerala, India."

To his surprise, Messi responded the following day with a simple yet meaningful comment: "Gracias, Yadil," which quickly garnered over a million likes and 1.3 million views, making it a viral sensation.

Yadil, a restaurateur, shared that he used Google Translate to write his birthday wish in Spanish, aiming to connect more personally with Messi. He explained, "I know Messi understands English, but he is most comfortable in Spanish. That's why I used Google Translate to post my birthday video message in Spanish."

He conveyed his message, saying, "Feliz cumpleanos, Leo"—meaning 'Happy Birthday, Leo'—and expressed his hope that Messi would one day visit Kerala to see the murals and statue dedicated to him.

Yadil was in Doha, Qatar, when Messi's Argentina triumphed in the World Cup final against France, ending a 36-year wait for the trophy. His heartfelt tribute and Messi's response have turned into a cherished memory for the devoted fan.