I had to pause for a moment and take the phone out of my pocket. Right beside me were Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. On the other side stood legends Pelé and Diego Maradona. Hamza Choudhury of Bangladesh, with his distinctive curly hair, was there too.
Looking around, it felt as if football’s greatest stars -- both past and present -- were gathered in one place.
That place was KM Das Lane in Tikatuli, Dhaka -- specifically, the narrow alley beside Mitali School.
The footballers were not there in person, of course. Their faces adorned the walls in a series of artworks. A group of local youths, inspired by the upcoming FIFA World Cup, have transformed their neighbourhood lane into a football-themed attraction, naming it “FIFA Goli” (FIFA Alley).
With the United States, Canada, and Mexico jointly hosting the tournament, millions of dollars are being spent on infrastructure and decoration projects.
In terms of budget or artistic grandeur, Tikatuli’s FIFA Alley may seem small by comparison. But according to one of its organisers, Al Amin Hossen Robin, it makes up for that with pure passion.
Speaking to The Daily Star, he said, “We organised something similar during the last World Cup as well. This time, we are doing it on a larger scale. Elders, older brothers, younger brothers -- everyone in the neighbourhood has contributed financially to help transform our alley.”
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Whenever the World Cup arrives, discussions across Bangladesh inevitably revolve around Brazil and Argentina. This time, however, Argentina supporters appear to have a little more confidence, having won the last World Cup.
That is why visitors are greeted at the entrance of the alley by a large artwork of Argentine legend Lionel Messi, embracing and kissing the World Cup trophy in one hand while holding the Golden Ball award in the other.
Standing in front of the art, eighth-grade student Samin posed for a photograph. Nearby, his friend Nehal could not resist teasing him.
“They won the World Cup thanks to penalties, and now they’re acting so proud!” Nehal exclaimed before walking off to take a picture in front of Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr.’s portrait.
Samin immediately fired back, “Easy there, my friend. Don’t breathe too hard -- your Neymar falls over in the wind!”
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Leaving the two friends to their playful rivalry, a walk through the alley revealed many more familiar faces. Among the legends were Pelé, Maradona, and Brazilian superstar Ronaldo. The current generation was represented by France’s Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s Lamine Yamal. There was also a portrait of Argentina’s Ángel Di María.
Robin noted that a great deal of work still remains.
“The alley has not yet reached its final form,” he said. “By June 11, before the World Cup kicks off, it will be fully decorated and ready.”
For the residents of this small lane in Tikatuli, the World Cup is not just a tournament.
Monowar Hossain, a local, said, “It is a celebration -- one that has turned an ordinary neighbourhood alley into a colourful tribute to the world’s most beloved sport.”
