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Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi and Argentina to play exhibition match in Kerala in October. Photo Courtesy: IBNS File/Avishek Mitra

World Cup-winning skipper Messi and his Argentina to play exhibition match in Kerala in October

| @indiablooms | Mar 26, 2025, at 04:08 pm

Indian football fans will get an opportunity to see Lionel Messi's magical moves this year when the World Cup winner and his Argentinian team will visit Kerala to plan an international exhibition match.

Messi is expected to visit the southern Indian state in October.

Also Click: Glimses of Messi's 2011 visit to Kolkata to play exhibition match

HSBC India on Wednesday announced its official partnership with the Argentina football team.

"Under this partnership, the Argentina national football team, including legendary player Lionel Messi, will visit India for an international exhibition match in October 2025," a release from HSBC India said as quoted by India Today.

The Argentine football icon, who guided his side to World Cup victory in Qatar, last visited India in 2011 when he played an exhibition match in Kolkata.

The match was played between Argentina and Venezuela.

Argentina had won the match 1-0.

Messi's World Cup-winning teammate Emiliano Martinez visited India in 2022.

He had won the Golden Glove Award in the Qatar Olympics.

During his visit to Kolkata, he inaugurated the 'Pele-Maradona-Sobers' gate at the Salt Lake Stadium.

In his glorious football career, Messi clinched one World Cup, one Finalissima and two Copa Américas with Argentina.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has also won 12 domestic league titles, seven domestic cups and four UEFA Champions League trophies at club level, read the Olympic website.

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