Recap: When Madhav Suresh told his father he would win the FIFA World Cup for India in 2026

Actor Madhav Suresh, who will soon feature in Janaki V. State of Kerala — which also stars his father and superstar Suresh Gopi — is an ardent football fan. The young actor apparently has a tattoo on his calf of his favourite football team, Manchester United.

The actor made this confession during an interaction with a YouTube channel. While saying that he is open to trolls for supporting a team that has been off-colour of late, Madhav also expressed hope that his team would soon return to winning ways.

Apart from his love for United, Madhav is also an ardent admirer of Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal national team he represents.

Interestingly, what has gone viral on social media is an almost decade-old video of Madhav and his father talking on a sports programme aired by a Malayalam news channel. It dates back to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, ahead of the opening match between Croatia and Brazil, where the young actor and his father were engaged in a lively discussion with the programme’s anchors.

In the programme, Suresh Gopi shared his son’s passion for football, saying that Madhav had been closely following the game ever since he was small.

“Recently, when I had gone to Dubai, all he wanted me to bring back was a football. In fact, he once said that in 2026, India will win the FIFA World Cup — and he will be part of that team!” said the current Union Minister, highlighting his son’s enthusiasm for the beautiful game.

An excited Madhav also went on to share his thoughts at length on the 2014 World Cup — how the tournament missed several major stars including Franck Ribéry, and his deep interest in the Portuguese team and Cristiano Ronaldo.

This heartwarming anecdote serves as an endearing reminder of a time in Madhav’s life when he dreamed of bringing glory to India — not through cinema, but through the beautiful game of football.

Madhav Suresh continues to be a dedicated football follower. He even recently stated that if given the chance, he would still pursue football.

While his love for the game remains unwavering, Madhav has now followed in his father’s footsteps, entering and carving a name for himself in the Malayalam film industry. His enduring passion for football stands as a testament to the widespread adoration for the sport in this part of the world.