Possibility of Lionel Messi playing in India? Kerala sports minister optimistic about hosting Argentina in 2025

Kerala sports minister V Abdurahiman made a blockbuster announcement on Wednesday (Nov 20), declaring that the Argentina football team, led by the iconic Lionel Messi, will be gracing the state with their presence for an international match in 2025. During a press conference, Minister Abdurahiman disclosed that the highly anticipated football showdown will be conducted under the auspices of the state government. Commenting on the financial aspect of organizing the event, he affirmed, "The merchants of Kerala have generously extended their support by providing all the necessary funds for hosting this prestigious football extravaganza."

Notably, Messi -- who has a huge fan following worldwide -- last played in India in 2011, when Argentina faced Venezuela in an international friendly match at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The tie ended in a 0-0 stalemate. Thus, ardent football fans would be desperate to catch a glimpse of Messi, who is returning to India after 14 years.

Messi has an immense following in India, a country that is deemed a cricket-crazy nation. Kerala, on the other hand, is a state where football fans are in large numbers; hence, there will be a lot of buzz to see the Argentine captain in action.

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Talking about world champions Argentina, they beat Peru 1-0 in the South American FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday (Nov. 19). Courtesy of a magnificent volley from Lautaro Martinez, Argentina moved past Peru with a 1-0 scoreline, whereas Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Uruguay. With this result, the in-form Argentina remain at the top of the CONMEBOL standings (with 25 points in their kitty) with their qualification for the 2026 showpiece event surely just a matter of time. The Messi-starrer team has been in roaring form since their 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph.