Kolkata fan reveals how Argentina great helped him overcome darkness

For Shamindra Ghosh, her journey back from the brink of severe depression was achieved not by conventional therapy but by the mesmerizing footwork of Argentinian football icon Lionel Messi. The die-hard fan from Kolkata’s Dumdum has since transformed his personal space into a shrine, a café entirely dedicated to the global superstar who inspired him in his darkest hours.

Ghosh, a Civil Engineering graduate, found himself struggling with the loss of his mother and the uncertainty of his career path between 2019 and 2021. It was during this time of paralyzing pain that he turned to YouTube for solace.

“I realized that whenever I felt depressed, I would watch videos of Lionel Messi. That would cheer me up,” Ghosh told Livemint.

A Shrine for Argentinians

Inspired by the legendary dribbler’s relentless spirit, Ghosh decided to use an empty space in his own building to pay tribute to the man who brought light back to his life. The result was Cafe Leo, a small establishment near Dumdum station; its walls were now adorned with portraits and highlights from Messi’s career.

For Ghosh, this is no ordinary business venture. “Messi is a God to me and I call this cafe my temple,” he said, adding his desire to leave a legacy. “I want to leave a legacy to the next generation. People should know me as a die-hard Messi fan who is building a temple for the Argentinian player through my cafe,” Livemint quoted him as saying.

Hope of Divine Meeting

Creating an exciting atmosphere on match days, the cafe has become a pilgrimage site for local Messi enthusiasts. Ghosh’s lifelong dream of meeting his idol came to the fore when Messi was scheduled to visit Kolkata on December 13 as part of a four-city tour of India.

Despite hearing from the organizer, who promised to try to arrange a meeting, the fan is still anxiously hopeful. Ghosh is desperate to share his personal story directly with the legend.

“I want to feel my God (Messi) for once,” he passionately told Livemint. “I am still hopeful that I will meet Messi, and if that happens, I would like to tell him my story. I want to tell him, ‘I dedicate a part of my life to you’.”

Four years after opening Cafe Leo, Ghosh has successfully overcome the difficult phase by getting a job in a private company and planning his wedding for December 15. But the main focus remains on the pitch and the fan is now saving money to achieve his ultimate goal: to see his hero play live in a stadium before his illustrious career comes to an end.

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