PHOTOS: COURTESY

RAKSHANDA RAHMAN MISHA

Watching Lionel Messi from just a few rows away was the highlight of FS Nayeem’s recent World Cup adventure in the United States. Alongside his wife, actress Nadia Ahmed, the actor attended Argentina’s match against Algeria and experienced the atmosphere of football’s biggest tournament firsthand.

Photos of the celebrity couple at the match took social media by storm after Nadia, a passionate Argentina supporter, shared glimpses of their World Cup experience online.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Nayeem revealed that what began as a casual family plan soon turned into an unforgettable football adventure involving Nadia’s younger sister, Nandita, and her husband.

The most entertaining aspect of the trip, according to Nayeem, was that everyone supported different teams.

“We all support different teams,” he said with a laugh. “Nandita is a Germany supporter, I support Germany as well, Nadia supports Argentina, and Nandita’s husband is a Brazil fan. We applied for tickets to matches involving all of our favourite teams.”

With World Cup tickets distributed through a lottery system, all four submitted applications in the hope of securing seats for different matches. Fate, however, had a special surprise in store.

“Fortunately, we got tickets for the Argentina versus Algeria match on Wednesday, which meant we got to witness Lionel Messi’s magic live,” he recalled.

For Nayeem, attending a World Cup match had long been a dream.

“Watching a World Cup match from the stadium is a huge thing for me. It was a truly special moment for all of us,” he said.

Before heading to the stadium, the group spent several hours at the FIFA Fan Festival, immersing themselves in the carnival-like atmosphere surrounding the tournament.

“There were live concerts, football-themed souvenirs, giant screens, and countless activities for fans. Those who couldn’t get tickets could watch the match there. We also took lots of photos with different attractions and installations,” Nayeem said.

Afterwards, FIFA’s shuttle service transported them to the stadium.

“We reached around 7:20 pm, and the match started at 8 pm. The entire stadium was packed. We had fantastic seats. This wasn’t club football—it was the World Cup. I kept telling Nadia, ‘I can’t believe we’re actually watching a World Cup match right now.’”

Once inside, Nayeem found himself surrounded by Argentina supporters.

“Almost 90 percent of the people sitting around me were Argentina supporters, while maybe two percent were supporting Algeria,” he said. “Most of them were busy recording the match on their phones, but I was just quietly watching Messi.”

According to him, that turned out to be the best decision of the night.

“It felt like every time Messi touched the ball, something extraordinary was about to happen. Even if he had possession for only a few seconds, he would either create a goal-scoring opportunity or deliver a beautiful pass. The entire stadium would erupt whenever he got hold of the ball.”

The electric atmosphere left a lasting impression on the actor, particularly the passion displayed by Argentina’s supporters.

“Argentina fans are incredibly expressive. They were singing throughout the match. Some were even playing instruments. The whole experience felt magical,” he said.

Reflecting on the evening, Nayeem said the crowd’s reaction to Messi perfectly demonstrated the football icon’s universal appeal.

“The way people cheered for him every time he touched the ball showed exactly why Messi is loved by football fans all over the world. But thanks to Nadia, I got to experience a part of that passion firsthand. She’s a true Argentina fan,” he added.