April 22, 2026 08:03 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
'Will never forget’: Nation remembers Pahalgam victims as leaders vow strong fight against terror | 'India will never bow to any form of terror': PM Modi on Pahalgam terror attack anniversary | TCS Nashik case: No interim bail for Danish Shaikh in religious sentiments case | US woman alleges sexual assault at Karnataka homestay; owner among 2 arrested | ‘PM Modi is a terrorist’: Mallikarjun Kharge sparks row; BJP hits back | ‘What kind of order is this?’: Mamata slams ECI’s bike curbs in poll-bound Bengal, calls it ‘mischief’ | ‘90% of women can’t do politics without entering male politicians’ rooms’: Pappu Yadav sparks row; BJP targets Congress | Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO; John Ternus named successor | 15 killed, 20 injured as bus plunges into gorge in J&K’s Udhampur | Oil jumps over 5% as Strait of Hormuz closure fuels supply fears
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi played an exhibition match in Kolkata in 2011. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Lionel Messi's visit to India is now confirmed: Argentina to play friendly in November

| @indiablooms | Aug 23, 2025, at 01:14 pm

The Argentine Football Association on Friday confirmed that the national side, featuring Lionel Messi, will play an international friendly in Kerala in November.

In a statement released on the official website, the Association said: "The first, in October, from the 6th to the 14th, will be played in the United States (opponents and cities to be determined)."

"The second, a FIFA friendlies in November, from the 10th to the 18th, will be played in Luanda, Angola, and Kerala, India (opponents to be determined)," the statement said.

Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman said a top team is being planned to be invited to the state to compete against the world champion side.

"We will select a team from among FIFA’s top 50. Several teams have approached us. The Australian football team has expressed interest, and we also have a sports exchange agreement with them. Similarly, three or four other teams have contacted us," Abdurahiman was quoted as saying by India Today.

"Initially, AFA planned it for 2026. However, we contacted them and requested that they hold the match in Kerala this year. Now, AFA has officially confirmed it. We intend to bring the Argentina squad that won the 2022 World Cup," the minister said.

"Our intention is to provide a platform for fans to see Messi play in Kerala," he said.

Messi and his men beat France in 2022 to win the World Cup in Qatar.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.