Since the day Lionel Messi's name started being whispered and began appearing on TV screens, a big hope and dream grew up among a large group of Bangladeshi football fans.
Those who had thought there wouldn't be anyone like Pele or Diego Maradona again were also curious.
Then he started stealing the show, one match-winner after another, steering Barcelona to the summit of Spanish and continental football, and with seven Ballon d'Or titles, he literally conquered Europe.
It happened at a time when South American football was going through its longest ever World Cup trophy drought in history, but Messi continued with his individual brilliance year after year.
It is Messi who largely popularized European club football in Bangladesh.
He has long been a hero here to the Argentine fans who cherished his every victory like one of their own.
They woke up in the wee hours of the morning to watch him play, and many of them became Barca fans overnight.
It needs to be mentioned that the fan base among mass people here in Bangladesh is divided largely into two groups – Argentina and Brazil.
This is why Neymar is the other popular footballer in this part of the world.
There is also a significant number of Cristiano Ronaldo fans.
There had been English Premier League followers previously but it is down to the likes of Messi and Neymar that interest on European football expanded to distant towns and villages in the country.
It took Messi a long time to finally win a major international trophy, last year at Copa America.
Only Latin America and European teams have contested World Cup finals in history, much like this time - his one last hurrah on the greatest show on earth.
A large number of arrangements have already been made in Bangladesh to witness the great man's last dance in pursuit of ultimate glory.
It may bring tears in the eyes of the fans, like how Maradona broke down in 1990, or it might just be a celebration for the ages, a lasting memory that will persist for a long, long time to come.