Argentine football legend Claudio Caniggia, who lit up the global stage alongside Diego Maradona in the 1990s, strongly believes that with proper planning and infrastructure development, Bangladesh will one day compete on the World Cup’s main stage. Attending as a special guest at the closing ceremony of the ‘Dhaka Inter-School Championship’ in the capital on Monday (August 17, 2026), the former Argentine forward shared his optimistic outlook on the nation’s footballing future.
During the event, Caniggia also weighed in on the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate, highlighted the significance of Premier League star Hamza Choudhury, and outlined strategic imperatives for advancing football in Bangladesh.
Addressing the long-standing GOAT debate, Caniggia noted: “Pele, Maradona, and Messi are the three greatest players in football history. Brazil has one Pele, while we have two. As an Argentine, what could be a matter of greater pride and joy?”
Elaborating on the development of Bangladeshi football, he emphasized the role of star player Hamza Choudhury, remarking that top-tier English Premier League experience is a major asset for any country. Drawing parallels to powerhouse nations like Argentina and Brazil, Caniggia stressed that exporting talent to competitive overseas leagues is essential for building a formidable national team.
Concluding with an emphasis on government sponsorship, modern coaching frameworks, and psychological resilience, Caniggia reassured Bangladeshi fans: “While qualifying for the World Cup is tough, many nations have made immense progress over the past one to two decades. With a sustained long-term roadmap, I firmly believe Bangladesh will play in the World Cup one day.”
