Lionel Messi to Return to India After 14 Years, Will Play an International Match in This State
Patiala, 21 November (Sports Desk)
Great news for Indian football fans! Football legend Lionel Messi is set to return to India after 14 years. Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has confirmed that the Argentine football team will play a friendly match in Kerala.
Lionel Messi first visited India in 2011 when Argentina played an exhibition match against Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Nicolas Otamendi scored the only goal in a packed stadium. This 2011 match also marked the beginning of the era of Messi’s captaincy for the Argentine national football team.
Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman said that the match will be organized under the complete supervision of the state government. He said, “All financial assistance for organizing this high-profile football event will be provided by the state’s businessmen.”
It is not yet known who Argentina will play against, but it is being said that a top Asian team will face the world champions.
According to reports, a delegation led by Abdurahiman was sent to Spain for high-level talks with the AFA (Argentina Football Association). The minister said that the talks were positive and fruitful. “We had a great discussion on how an exhibition match of the Argentine team can be organized in Kerala, and after our discussion, a delegation from the AFA will soon visit Kerala.”
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Reports also suggest that the Kerala government and the AFA may set up several football academies in the state to nurture local talent.
It is worth noting that Argentina is the current world champion. The team won the 2022 FIFA World Cup final by defeating France 4-2 on penalties, their third World Cup title. Previously, the team had won the title in 1978 and 1986.
Apart from Lionel Messi, football legends like David Beckham, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Pele, Oliver Kahn, and Emiliano Martinez have also visited India.
Which Argentine players came to India for the match against Venezuela?
Players like Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria, and Gonzalo Higuain played against Venezuela. Sergio Aguero also came as a substitute.
