Thiruvananthapuram: Football-crazy Kerala is set to host a historic sporting spectacle as Lionel Messi and Argentina’s FIFA World Cup-winning team will play a friendly match in the state this November during the FIFA International Window, Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman has confirmed.
“Messi will come. Official confirmation has been received via mail that the Qatar World Cup-winning Argentina team, including Lionel Messi, will arrive in Kerala for a friendly in November 2025,” the minister announced on Facebook.
This will mark Messi’s second visit to India after 2011, when he led Argentina against Venezuela in Kolkata, winning 1-0 at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier said the visit underscores the state’s deep passion for football, calling it an “extraordinary gift” to fans. “Kerala is a land where football is embraced with love and passion, transcending boundaries. The visit of Argentina, the reigning world champions, will resonate Kerala’s name on the global sports map,” Vijayan noted.
The Chief Minister also revealed that the initiative was made possible through persistent government efforts and support from Kerala’s business community, which has agreed to bear the financial costs. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is expected to make an official announcement in the coming weeks.
