Messi 'super fan' commits suicide following Argentina's World Cup exit

Alex Baker
Lionel Messi of Argentina looks dejected during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between France and Argentina at Kazan Arena on June 30, 2018 in Kazan, Russia. (Getty Images)
Lionel Messi of Argentina looks dejected during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between France and Argentina at Kazan Arena on June 30, 2018 in Kazan, Russia. (Getty Images)

A 20-year-old Indian man who’s been described as a Lionel Messi “super fan” apparently took his own life after Argentina was eliminated from the World Cup by France on Saturday. Monotosh Halder was a resident of Habibpur in the Malda district of West Bengal.

Halder, a passionate Messi and Argentina fan, was reportedly heartbroken following Saturday’s result, which saw Messi’s team dumped out of the 2018 World Cup after being dealt a 4-3 loss by France. The young man skipped dinner on Saturday night and informed his family he was going right to bed. He locked the door to his bedroom behind him.

The following morning, when he did not arise as usual, his family went to check on him. After several attempts were made with no response, the police were summoned. Officers arrived on the scene and forced the door open and inside they discovered Halder’s lifeless body hanging from his bedroom ceiling.

“My son had no illness. He was an Argentina fan and every day he used to remain glued to the TV since the World Cup had started,” said the young man’s father, Mongol Halder, speaking to Goal.com. “He was distraught after Argentina’s loss to France. But we never thought he would do something like this.”

Local police have reportedly launched a probe into the case, although initial implications are that the man’s decision to end his own life was motivated by Argentina’s failure at the tournament.

Sadly, this isn’t the first report of a Messi-related suicide we’ve heard during this World Cup. Last month, the body of 30-year-old Dinu Alex was fished out of a river in the Indian state of Kerala. Alex had gone missing following Argentina’s 3-0 loss to Croatia.

His family later discovered a letter in his bedroom in which the man explained that he couldn’t bear the pain of seeing his beloved Argentina, and his hero Messi, lose.

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