Lionel Messi-led Argentina team likely to visit Kerala in late 2025

Lionel Messi and the Argentina men's national football team are expected to visit Kerala in the latter half of 2025, according to the state's Sports Minister, V. Abdurahiman, at a public event.

The minister claimed at the event that the World Cup winner would, in addition to playing friendlies in Kerala, interact with the public for 20 minutes on a public platform.

"For seven days, from October 25 to November 2, Messi will be in Kerala. Apart from the friendly match, he will be on a public stage for twenty minutes to meet everyone," Abdurahiman said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd in Kozhikode.

Confusion over dates

There is some confusion surrounding the dates, as they do not align with FIFA’s 2025 international calendar, which includes two possible windows later in the year: October 6–14 and November 10–18. However, subsequent media reports suggest that the minister later backtracked, stating he was primarily trying to "motivate students" when announcing the dates.

In November 2024, the Kerala government had announced that the Argentina national football team would visit Kerala in 2025 for two international friendly matches in Kochi. Details about the venue and opponent would be finalised at a later date, according to the initial announcement.

The recent update was shared by the minister during an event attended primarily by young people. This follows Messi's immense popularity in Kerala, which was especially evident during the Qatar World Cup, when fans in the state set up a giant cutout of Messi in his honor. Argentina Football also highlighted the giant cutout, showcasing the fans' support for their captain.

Messi's popularity

The Argentina team, 2022 World Cup winners, had expressed interest in playing a friendly match in India. The Indian Football Association initially declined due to financial constraints, but Kerala's Sports Minister sent a formal invitation, which was accepted.

Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also met with the Argentine Ambassador in Delhi to discuss football development. While details are still pending, two matches are expected in Kerala. Messi’s Argentina team previously played in Kolkata in 2011, where Messi captained a friendly match against Venezuela.