Saudi hero Salem Al Dawsari earns place among World Cup giants in Kerala village
A towering cut-out of the player joins those of Ronaldo, Neymar and Messi after he secured his country a famous 2-1 win over Argentina
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
The fantastic four football heroes on display. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
A huge cut-out of Brazilian striker Neymar. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
Lionel Messi is hoping to leave opposition defences all at sea during the World Cup. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
The nine-metre high tribute to Lionel Messi. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
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
Tourists are travelling from far and wide to see the giants of the game on display. Photo: Pullavoor football fans
The giant cut-outs of three of the world's best players are the centrepiece of this unlikely hotbed of football. Pullavoor football fans
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
India may love cricket, but football is king in this Kerala village. Pullavoor football fans
Saudi Arabia's new footballing hero Salem Al Dawsari has made it big, after being added to a collection of huge cardboard cut-outs of World Cup stars on display in an Indian village.
Al Dawsari won global acclaim after scoring the decisive goal as the Green Falcons soared to a stunning victory over Argentina on Tuesday in perhaps the greatest upset in the tournament's history.
Now his exploits are being celebrated in Pullavoor village in southern Kerala, where one of the world's most unlikely football fan zones has sprung up.
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Fans set up a nine-metre tall likeness of the Saudi player in tribute to his starring role in a win that captivated World Cup watchers the world over.
The football-crazy fans of Pullavoor village have been making headlines of their own by setting up towering cut-outs of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo, the largest of which is 15 metres, near the riverbank.
The new addition to the pantheon of superstars has Al Dawsari standing tall in his green kit with the tag "Saudi Fans" and looking over the village ground.
Saudi Arabia's success no surprise in village
Salem Al Dawsari of Saudi Arabia, front, celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal in their 2-1 against Argentina during the 2022 World Cup at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. EPA
Saudi Arabia celebrate their second goal by Salem Al Dawsari against Argentina at the Lusail Stadium. AFP
Saudi Arabia's Salem Al Dawsari after scoring his side's second goal on Tuesday. AP
Lionel Messi of Argentina reacts during the match against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Getty
Saudi Arabia's Saleh Al Shehri, left, celebrates after scoring the equaliser against Argentina. AFP
Crowd attendance is shown on a giant screen at the Lusail Stadium. Getty
Saudi Arabia's goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais saves a shot from Argentina. AP
Saudi Arabia's Nawaf Al Abid fights for the ball with Argentina's Enzo Fernandez. Reuters
Saleh Al Shehri, right, scores his team's opening goal. EPA
Angel Di Maria of Argentina looked stunned. Getty
Lionel Messi after scoring the first goal on Tuesday. AFP
Subair Pandiyala, a keen follower of the Saudi striker, said he had planned the fan homage weeks before the Qatar World Cup started.
“I have seen him play and I know how good he is,” said the 48-year-old, who worked in Riyadh for more than two decades.
“After the match, so many people support Saudi Arabia. But before the match, everyone thought Argentina would win.
“No one thought Saudi Arabia was good and experienced, but I knew.
“This is the first time for such a victory for the Asian and Arab world so it needs a big celebration.”
The Saudi victory lit up the World Cup and was marked with a national holiday in the kingdom.
Working in Saudi Arabia as an electrical technician, Mr Pandiyala often watched the team play in his free time.
He has fond memories of his life in Riyadh, which came to an abrupt end when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Two years ago, he was in India for a holiday and could not return to work in the kingdom when airports shut, countries closed borders and his visa was cancelled.
Mr Pandiyala has since opened a small business in his village selling electric scooters.
'Home teams' in Qatar
Canada's defender #22 Richie Laryea falls after a challange by Belgium's midfielder #06 Axel Witsel during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Belgium and Canada. AFP
Belgium's midfielder #18 Amadou Onana (L) and Canada's midfielder #21 Jonathan Osorio. AFP
Belgium's forward #23 Michy Batshuayi and Canada's midfielder #15 Ismael Kone fight for the ball. AFP
Spain's Marco Asensio celebrates scoring their second goal with Dani Olmo. Reuters
Takuma Asano (R) of Japan scores the second goal of his team against German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. EPA
A Mexico fan waving their country's flag on Doha's Corniche. Reuters
Canada's Alphonso Davies has his penalty saved by Belgium's Thibaut Courtois. Reuters
A firework and drone show over the water. Reuters
Fans of Canada enjoy the pre match atmosphere prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Belgium and Canada at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Getty Images
Gavi and Aymeric Laporte celebrate Spain's fifth goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Spain and Costa Rica at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha. AFP
Ferran Torres celebrates with his teammates after scoring Spain's third goal from the penalty spot in their 7-0 thumping of Costa Rica at Al Thumama Stadium. AFP
Costa Rica fans inside the stadium before the group E match. Little did they know what was to come. Reuters
Anthony Contreras (L) keeps his eye on the ball as he fights for it with Spain midfielder Gavi. AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo training with the Portugal squad on the eve of the group H World Cup match against Ghana. AP
Fans enjoy the build-up to the Spain v Costa Rica match. EPA
A Costa Rica fan is keyed up before the World Cup group E match against Spain at Al Thumama Stadium. AP
Fans in party mode as they arrive for Spain v Costa Rica. EPA
Maya Yoshida celebrates after Ritsu Doan scores Japan's equaliser against Germany, the Japanese going on to win 2-1 at Khalifa International Stadium. AP
Assistant referee Zachari Zeegelaar checks the captain's armband of German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer before the group E tussle with Japan. EPA
Germany's starting 11 pose for the team pre-match photo. EPA
Fans arrive at the stadium prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium. Getty Images
Japan supporters cheer before the World Cup group E match between against Germany. AP
(L-R) Marcelo Brozovic, Selim Amallah and Dejan Lovren vie for the ball as Morocco and Croatia drew 0-0. AP
Morocco fans turned Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor red for the match against Croatia. AP
Croatia's Mario Pasalic lunges for the ball. AP
Brazil fans jump for joy on Doha Corniche in Qatar. AP
Morocco fans at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. EPA
Morocco's Hakim Ziyech, left, and Romain Saiss warm up ahead of their World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match against Croatia at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha. AFP
Croatia's defender Josko Gvardiol warms up for the Group F game against Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium. AFP
Croatia fans hold aloft cutouts of forward Marko Livaja and midfield legend Luka Modric ahead of the Group F match against Morocco. AFP
An aerial view of displays of giant Croatian and Moroccan flags at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, ahead of their Group F clash. AFP
A Morocco supporter wearing a lion mask for the game against Croatia. The Moroccan team's nickname is The Atlas Lions. AFP
Morocco supporters draped in their country's flag ahead of the Croatia game. AFP
Croatia supporters wait for kick-off in their match against Morocco. AFP
Fans in co-ordinated T-shirts show their support for Morocco. AFP
Croatia's star midfielder 10 Luka Modric warms up ahead of the Group F match against Morocco. AFP
Kerala state is home to the largest number of Indian migrants who traditionally look for opportunities in the Gulf.
For the football fanatics, every World Cup is a cause for celebration, with homes painted in “home team” colours.
Fans feel a closer connection to the Qatar games because many have family and friends who work in the country.
“I support Saudi because for more than 25 years I lived there,” Mr Pandiyala said.
“Saudi helped my family, my children are in good schools. My progress, good opportunity, is from Saudi.
“In our village, so many people work in the UAE, Saudi, Qatar, so we like and remember the GCC countries.”
The villagers have set up a big screen for public viewing of all the World Cup games.
Hundreds of fans gather daily under the glow of the enormous cut-outs lit up with white bulbs.