Lionel Messi to visit Kerala for friendly match, confirms Sports Minister

Putting an end to months of speculation, Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman has officially confirmed that Argentine football legend Lionel Messi will visit the state later this year to participate in a friendly match.

The announcement comes after a prolonged period of uncertainty surrounding the proposed fixture involving the Argentina national football team.

The Kerala government had earlier declared plans to host the World Cup-winning team for an international friendly, but no concrete updates had surfaced in the past six months. This silence fuelled widespread speculation, with some reports suggesting that the visit was cancelled due to contractual breaches by the event sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Company.

Match likely in October–November FIFA window

Dispelling the rumours, Minister Abdurahiman announced on Saturday via a Facebook post captioned “Messi will come,” confirming the match is very much on track. Speaking to the media, he revealed that the financial obligations have now been fulfilled, clearing the way for the fixture to proceed.

"The sponsor has now paid the amount. There are no remaining obstacles. As per the FIFA window, October-November is the ideal period for such international friendlies. So that timeframe is likely for us as well," he stated.

Final confirmation awaited from Argentina

Although the match has not yet been officially confirmed by the Argentina Football Association, the minister indicated that the final tour details will be released once the payment is fully processed. He clarified that the state government is not involved in financial dealings and that the contract is solely between the sponsor and the Argentine team management.

The much-anticipated match is expected to be held at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, which previously hosted major international fixtures.