In a historic turn of events, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decisively won the West Bengal Assembly elections in 2026, ending a 15-year reign by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee. As the election results streamed in and celebrations ensued, an unexpected figure emerged in the chatter: Lionel Messi.
Almost immediately after the trends confirmed the BJP’s victory, social media lit up with humorous connections between Messi’s tumultuous visit to Kolkata in 2025 and the political shift. Users shared a flood of memes and jokes, transforming what was a political outcome into a light-hearted sporting storyline.
“Messi came to Kolkata in 2011, and it changed the West Bengal government. He came back in 2025, and it happened again. The GOAT has unreal powers,” quipped one user.
Some on X teased that Messi was a secret agent for the BJP who helped bring down the TMC. “BJP agent Messi started Didi’s downfall,” read one post, while another joked, “Messi did more for West Bengal than Modi!” The humor, while playful, was rooted in the somewhat chaotic memories surrounding Messi’s last visit.
LIONEL MESSI’S KOLKATA VISIT
The much-anticipated event quickly turned chaotic. Fans who had paid significant amounts were left disheartened when Messi was only on the field for less than ten minutes. Surrounded by officials and security, he couldn’t even complete a planned lap around the stadium, leading to frustrations in the crowd.
As tensions rose, some fans resorted to vandalism, throwing bottles and causing damage while security struggled to manage the situation. Clips of agitated fans and the poorly managed event flooded social media, turning what was meant to be a celebration into a PR nightmare.
The immediate aftermath was swift. Mamata Banerjee issued an apology and initiated an investigation, while police detained the event organizer. The BJP seized the moment, criticizing the state government for mishandling the situation.
In fact, the incident became part of the BJP’s campaign strategy leading up to the elections. The party released multiple videos blaming the TMC for bringing “international shame” to Kolkata, a city renowned for its football culture. They painted the incident as a sign of broader failures in governance.
Remember how TMC brought international shame to the City of Joy by driving away Lionel Messi. Mahajungle Raj spared no one. Bengal’s great Sports culture needs to be brought back. pic.twitter.com/POdMXBOhjz— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) April 26, 2026
BENGAL ELECTION RESULTS: TMC OUSTED
Months later, as the BJP gained ground from North Bengal to urban hubs like Kolkata and Howrah, social media users humorously linked the dots between the chaotic stadium incident and the election results.
While the electoral outcome was influenced by various factors such as anti-incumbency sentiments and the strength of the BJP on the ground, the internet had crafted a much simpler narrative.
In a playful twist of fate, from a chaotic stadium exit to a surprising electoral win, Lionel Messi had, at least in the world of memes, pulled off an unexpected victory once again.
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