The Hotel Suite in India That Became a Maradona Shrine

Few

international sporting icons have enjoyed the kind of cult following in India that Diego Maradona did. In West Bengal and Kerala, the Argentinian footballer was revered almost as one of their own. Such was his stature in Bengal that it was often said, "God is 5 feet 5 inches tall", because that was Maradona's height.Such was his popularity that, when the footballer died on 25 November 2020, the Kerala government announced two days of mourning in the state's sports sector. Maradona was the star of these two states and commanded as much support as many local footballers. His famous 'Hand of God' goal in the 1986 FIFA World Cup helped cement his fan base there.

His political views also resonated with many fans in Bengal and Kerala. Maradona was a lifelong admirer of the revolutionary Che Guevara. He even had Guevara's image tattooed on his arm. He was also a close friend and supporter of Fidel Castro, whom he credited with helping him through personal struggles and influencing his political views. His Left-wing beliefs found a receptive audience in West Bengal and Kerala, states that for decades had strong communist traditions. During a visit to Kolkata, he met former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and, according to PTI, said: "You have seen Fidel Castro closely, whom I hold in high esteem, and in that respect I consider you close to me as well."

During his first visit to Kolkata in December 2008, he was welcomed by thousands of fans at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. A song was also composed to welcome and honour his visit to the city. The video began with a very young Maradona saying in Spanish: "I have two dreams. The first is to play in the World Cup. The second is to be a champion." The song chronicled his aspirations, dreams and rise to become one of the world's greatest football icons. His story resonated with many Indians: the rise of a footballing god from extreme poverty in a rough slum on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The hysteria surrounding his visit even surprised Maradona. He was accompanied by Verónica Ojeda, and a specially designed bus with transparent windows was brought in so that fans could catch a glimpse of the football star as he travelled from the airport. People lined the streets wearing Argentina jerseys and holding his cut-outs aloft. The atmosphere was like a carnival. Welcome messages in Bengali, Hindi, Spanish and English greeted him along the route.

During his visit to Kannur, Kerala, in 2012, he famously said: "I love India, I love Kerala." Suite 309 at Hotel Blue Nile in Kannur, where he stayed during the visit, was later turned into a museum. Every item used by him, including cigarette butts, was preserved in glass cases. The museum housed more than 150 pieces of memorabilia and even included prawn shells from meals he had eaten during his stay.A 12-foot statue of Maradona was unveiled at a club in Kolkata, depicting the 1986 World Cup winner. The football star returned to the city in 2017 to inaugurate it personally while attending a charity event. According to reports, he said in Spanish, through an interpreter: "I am not a god of football but a simple footballer. I'm happy to be here in Kolkata again. It's amazing to have my statue here." The statue, however, attracted considerable attention online for bearing little resemblance to Maradona.With the football summer in full swing and Indian fans gearing up to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it is worth remembering Maradona and a special connection that he shared with India.