Go Leo go

Soccer fans in the Capital going for shoes, bags, jerseys...everything that has Lionel Messi on it.

It’s chilly in the Capital, but Delhi’s youngsters are in the grip of ‘Messi’ fever. City’s football fanatics just can’t stop raving about Argentina’s Lionel Messi, ever since he was announced as the Fifa Player of the Year.

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There is an overnight surge in the demand for everything with ‘LM’ on it. Adidas, which has already seen a sellout of Lionel Messi graphic t-shirts, is now witnessing an upsurge in queries for accessories. “The F50i boots [that Messi uses] are doing extremely well, and some more merchandise are expected to hit next year,” says Andreas Gellner, managing director, Adidas India.

“I can never get enough of him... waiting for the next World Cup to watch my hero do his country and fans proud again,” blogged Vibhav Yadav, class VIII student of Bal Bharati Public School, early this morning.

“Messi... jewel not only for Barca but also for world football,” wrote Harsh on an Orkut Page on Messi with 16,000 members. “Messi is so inspiring,” says Abhijoy Basu, coach of the Delhi’s Under-14 football team.

Even the flea market is ready to cash in on the Messi madness. Says Junaid, a shopkeeper in Palika Bazaar. “Quite a few boys have asked for Messi t-shirts and bags today.”

- Inputs from Mallica Joshi