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India may love cricket, but football is king in this Kerala village. Pullavoor football fans
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Salem Al Dawsari has joined a giant cutout collection at a Keral village, joining superstars Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
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The fantastic four football heroes on display. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
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A huge cut-out of Brazilian striker Neymar. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
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Lionel Messi is hoping to leave opposition defences all at sea during the World Cup. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
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The nine-metre high tribute to Lionel Messi. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
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Yadil Iqbal outside his restaurant in Kondungallur town, Kerala, India where he has paid homage to Lionel Messi and fellow Argentina greats. Photo: Yadil Iqbal
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Tourists are travelling from far and wide to see the giants of the game on display. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
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The giant cut-outs of three of the world's best players are the centrepiece of this unlikely hotbed of football. Pullavoor football fans
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A village in Kerala has become the main attraction for football fans keen to take photographs from a bridge that overlooks the massive cutouts of their football icons. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5BBR7DLVQJF6HJVLXB446S2GDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ce824653045d03a726c3cf521cd6cd6592a1de58643edb97d66d11c8f4692e4&width=400&height=225)
India may love cricket, but football is king in this Kerala village. Pullavoor football fans
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ERUSVVHNNRD2FN2RG35TKD7XBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c1b0a83d6383daee9471bf633abe422326f20e158463ca690a1b789d30c0c065&width=400&height=225)
Salem Al Dawsari has joined a giant cutout collection at a Keral village, joining superstars Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZWHVBTFYBNHAZCF6S6T4KP2DHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=1f78ac663a7a0a2b222025ff06198bb2911960468c1dd589b52cfe1bbabeee5b&width=400&height=225)
The fantastic four football heroes on display. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MCZJFGOD45HEFKTWM33TEAU4PY.jpg?smart=true&auth=57141de0a82e303b7e88332e648de9948ddcfde2e09e95f0c65d1dbfa3341e32&width=400&height=225)
A huge cut-out of Brazilian striker Neymar. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AFM2UYJTSJHQFE4MHQZZGO7G2E.jpg?smart=true&auth=15f7ffc0b71b7084c31163de20e3acacdf90761df98f65654f88e3fb8868932b&width=400&height=225)
Lionel Messi is hoping to leave opposition defences all at sea during the World Cup. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
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The nine-metre high tribute to Lionel Messi. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TS57AKEYGBFAZNYJ2X3XBWSVD4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9986672be203062c0181f836848eca3616d9d11d86f404cc8a4d78ce632a22cd&width=400&height=225)
Yadil Iqbal outside his restaurant in Kondungallur town, Kerala, India where he has paid homage to Lionel Messi and fellow Argentina greats. Photo: Yadil Iqbal
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B5OFJ6FK3ZCRPLYJHRQGAKAURQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=658d57e77068bcc8c22c4340564c559bbddf74a2da11a581dc8a28209af5adee&width=400&height=225)
Tourists are travelling from far and wide to see the giants of the game on display. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P57G6YCOLVBWTN5QGIWXGN5VRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=04ba8f5ffe7edfe2ac89b8b4c1148af15473438912c6aba8120b5c6d17b113c1&width=400&height=225)
The giant cut-outs of three of the world's best players are the centrepiece of this unlikely hotbed of football. Pullavoor football fans
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IZBKFUPXINFMRDH5TC2Y3YMOPU.jpg?smart=true&auth=94f265ce334133b9917cd292238fbcd35e9806b0efb10f845add062ed30da43c&width=400&height=225)
A village in Kerala has become the main attraction for football fans keen to take photographs from a bridge that overlooks the massive cutouts of their football icons. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5BBR7DLVQJF6HJVLXB446S2GDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ce824653045d03a726c3cf521cd6cd6592a1de58643edb97d66d11c8f4692e4&width=400&height=225)
India may love cricket, but football is king in this Kerala village. Pullavoor football fans
The World Cup-crazy Kerala village where Messi and Ronaldo are larger than life
Huge cardboard cut-outs of footballing heroes are the stars of perhaps the world's most unlikely tournament fan zone
![Ramola Talwar Badam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5ef0cfa3-a931-4bee-a429-a6e926cfab98.png?smart=true&auth=8bd0c965d9bb14cf66195518e8cc461c939674357be28fde76d5e3597d39b95d&width=70&height=70)
Ramola Talwar Badam
23 November, 2022
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