As the World Cup kicked off on Thursday, Indonesian football superfan Muhammad Yusuf celebrated in style, waving a replica World Cup trophy from the balcony of his Argentina-themed home while hundreds of supporters paraded past.
The 54-year-old fisherman from Polewali Mandar in West Sulawesi has supported Argentina since the days of Diego Maradona and remains a devoted admirer of Lionel Messi.
His passion is reflected throughout his home, which is painted in Argentina’s iconic white and sky-blue colours. From the fence and garden pebbles to even his slippers, everything carries an Argentine touch, while posters of Messi and Argentina jerseys decorate every corner.
“I’ve liked the Argentine team since the Maradona era, and now we have Messi,” Muhammad said.
A large replica of the World Cup trophy stands proudly in his front yard, attracting visitors from nearby villages eager to share in the celebrations.
Muhammad’s admiration for Messi extends to his family. His three-year-old grandson is named Muhammad Messi after being born on the day Argentina defeated Mexico during the 2022 World Cup group stage.
The devoted fan also gained national attention in 2022 when he walked six kilometres to visit his newborn grandson after fulfilling a promise he had made if Argentina won the World Cup.
Despite Indonesia’s rich football culture, the nation has appeared at the World Cup only once, in 1938, when it competed as the Dutch East Indies. Indonesia also fell short in its bid to qualify for the 2026 tournament.
With what could be Messi’s final World Cup appearance, Muhammad plans to watch every Argentina match and hopes to see his hero lift the trophy once again.
“I hope Messi can be a world champion again in 2026,” he said.
