Lionel Messi to play in Kerala in November as Argentina face FIFA friendly

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is set to host football history this November, as Lionel Messi and reigning FIFA World Cup champions Argentina will play a friendly match in the state during the FIFA International Match Window of 2025.

Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman announced the development on social media, saying the confirmation came via an official communication from the Argentine Football Association (AFA). It will be the first visit to India for Messi and his World Cup-winning teammates, sparking huge excitement among football fans nationwide, especially in football-loving Kerala.

The Kerala Football Association (KFA), in coordination with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), is finalizing logistics, including the choice of venue. Early discussions suggest the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram as the likely host.

The fixture will form part of Argentina’s build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Messi, who led his team to glory in Qatar 2022, is expected to captain the side, though the final squad list will be confirmed closer to the match.

The state government has pledged full support to ensure smooth arrangements for security, crowd control and hospitality. Tourism officials believe Messi’s presence could give Kerala’s international profile a major boost, attracting fans and visitors from across India and abroad.

For generations of Indian football lovers, particularly in Kerala who have passionately followed Argentina since the era of Diego Maradona, the chance to see Messi play on Indian soil is being hailed as a “dream come true” moment.

The announcement also comes against the backdrop of political sparring in the state. For weeks, Sports Minister Abdurahiman had faced criticism from the Congress, with state party president and MLA Sunny Joseph launching a hashtag campaign, “Messi is missing”, questioning the minister’s earlier promises.