Messi and Argentina team set to play in Kerala next year

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is set to host a historic football match next year, featuring the Argentina national team, including legendary player Lionel Messi. Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman announced the news on Wednesday during a press conference, stating that the state government would oversee the organization of the high-profile event.

Discussions regarding the Argentina team's visit to Kerala took place in Spain, where it was agreed that the team would play a friendly match in India in 2025. Kochi is being considered as the primary venue for the event, which will be organized under the full supervision of the state government.

The Sports Minister highlighted that the event would be a major financial undertaking for the government, requiring financial cooperation. The Kerala Gold and Civil Merchant Association has been approached, and the state's business community has shown willingness to support the event.

In about a month and a half, representatives from the Argentina team will arrive in Kerala, and both the government and the Argentina team will make an official announcement regarding the match. The event is expected to bring immense joy to football fans in Kerala, with Argentina, having the largest fanbase in the state, headlining the spectacle. The opposing team is likely to be an international side, with reports suggesting that two friendly matches will be played, one of which may feature Argentina facing a leading Asian team.

In 2011, Lionel Messi and the Argentina team visited India for a friendly match against Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The upcoming match in Kerala will be against a team ranked within the top 50 in the FIFA rankings, with Japan, ranked 15th, being the highest-ranked Asian team. The cost of organizing the match will be entirely funded through sponsorships, with the estimated total expected to exceed 100 crore rupees.

With PTI inputs