Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently expressed his admiration for football and shared his thoughts on the greatest players to have played the sport so far. Durign a podcast with American podcaster and AI researcher Lex Fridman, Modi was asked to choose between the like of Diego Maradona, Pele, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Zinedine Zidane. Indian PM acknowledged that Maradona was a legend for the previous generation, while Messi is the icon of today’s era.
During an interaction on the Lex Fridman Podcast, he said “Back in the 1980s, one name that always stood out was Maradona. For that generation, he was seen as a true hero, and if you ask today’s generation, they’ll immediately mention Messi,”
PM Modi Shares ‘Mini Brazil’ Story from India
During the conversation, Modi also highlighted India’s deep passion for football and praised the progress of the national women’s team. He shared a unique story about a tribal region in Madhya Pradesh that is known as ‘Mini Brazil’ due to its rich football culture.
He recalled visiting Shahdol, a tribal district in the state, where he was surprised to see around 80 to 100 young boys and youth dressed in sports uniforms. When he asked them about their background, they proudly referred to their village as ‘Mini Brazil.’
They explained that football had been played in their community for four generations, producing nearly 80 national-level players. The annual football tournament in the area reportedly attracts around 20,000 to 25,000 spectators from nearby regions, showcasing the sport’s deep roots in the community.
