World Cup craze: Which team are our Bengali celebs rooting for?

It’s FIFA World Cup and the football fever is already in the air. While football might not enjoy as much fan-following as cricket in India, the scenario is changing rapidly. Tollywood celebs have also geared up for all the excitement to come in the coming weeks. Here is a look at which teams our favourite stars are supporting this year.

Like millions of Argentina fans, Prosenjit is also backing Argentina and wants a Brazil-Argentina final. He is dreaming of a Neymar-Messi duel. However, the Tollywood superstar can’t guess who will win the battle. He will head to Moscow with his son Mishuk to watch at least 4-5 knockout stage matches and he is so excited about the trip as witnessing World Cup from the ground itself is a lifetime experience. It will be a much-needed break for Prosenjit after giving back to back box office hits like ‘Mayurakshi’ and ‘Drishtikone’.

Paoli Dam proudly declares herself as a Brazil fan. Her first crush was Brazillian footballing legend Bebeto. His famous goal celebration in the World Cup actually made Paoli crazy for samba football but now she is a big fan of Neymar. She has been a Brazil supporter since her childhood days and it won’t change this year also. Romario, Dunga, Roberto Carlos all have been her football icons. The beautiful actress will be cheering for Brazil despite a hectic shooting schedule because as she says, “I am too loyal”.

Parambrata is a diehard fan of Argentina. He is supporting the South American giants since 1990. But the versatile actor regrets that in each World Cup he has received nothing but heartbreak. During the 2014 World Cup final he literally cried like a baby when Argentina missed out on the trophy while Germany became champion. This year the interest is a bit more because it could be the last time Messi will appear in a World Cup, his only chance to kiss the trophy. However, Parambrata remains practical as he knows chances will be slim for Argentina. According to him, this time the potential champions are France, Germany and Brazil.

Rahul is another Argentina supporter from the Bengali film industry. His all-time favourite footballer is Maradona but now he has become an ardent fan of Lionel Messi. The Tollywood star doesn’t want to miss any Argentina match this year. Sadly, when Messi and his team will be playing in the group league he will be busy shooting for ‘Byomkesh Gwotro’. Apart from his favourite team, Rahul will be closely watching Spain and Belgium. But the focus will be on Messi as Rahul believes the FC Barcelona superstar will be at his best to shine in his last World Cup appearance.

Despite being a hardcore Brazil fan, Ritwick’s favourite footballer is Lionel Messi. But if it’s Brazil vs Argentina, then he will obviously cheer for the Neymar brigade. World Cup makes the actor nostalgic. Like any other Bengalee sports lover, he has been a football fan from long before he entered the Tollywood industry. The memories of watching football with close friends, the club culture still makes him happy. Such is the love for football that even today Ritwick prefers to see World Cup match with friends and in the coming weeks it will not be any different.

Being an Argentina supporter, Abir is a bit sad that during the world cup he will be busy in shooting for ‘Byomkesh Gwotro’ in Mussoorie. The next Byomkesh film will release during Durga Puja, so the shooting has to be wrapped up soon. But he hopes to steal some time to watch the World Cup, especially the Argentina Matches. Abir is also rooting for Spain, Ireland, Belgium and Portugal because teams like Belgium and Ireland always emerge as the underdogs as the tournament progresses. Above all these, one thing is quite clear for Abir. He wants Messi to lift the World Cup. That would be a dream come true for him.

Anirban hasn’t seen the golden days of Maradona as he was born in 1986, but he is a diehard fan of Argentina and obviously an Argentine supporter. Just like Sachin Tendulkar got the chance to lift the 2011 cricket World Cup, he now wants Messi to win the Russia World Cup. The football crazy actor will be watching every single Argentina match in the coming weeks. He also wants to watch Brazil and Germany’s matches. Anirban is also a fan of Spanish defender Sergio Ramos. Like any other Argentina supporters, he is hoping to see Argentina in the final as they did last time.

Despite being a hardcore cricket fan, this beautiful actress doesn’t want to miss the football World Cup also. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are her favourite footballers. So, this year she is looking forward to seeing them dazzling in Russia. Isha will watch Argentina and Portugal’s matches just to see the two football icons in action. However, her all-time favourite footballer is David Beckham. She watched the film ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ just because the former English star’s name was in the title. Ishaa also dreams of cheering India one day at the world football’s biggest carnival.