Lionel Messi's India visit for Argentina friendly match reportedly cancelled

The Argentine was expected to come to India to play a friendly game.

Football fans in Kerala may be disappointed because the much-anticipated visit of the Lionel Messi-led Argentina team may not go as planned. This is due to the team’s inability to raise the required amount of money for an appearance.

The current World Cup champions will play an international match in the state, which will be overseen by the state government, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman announced during a news conference in Thiruvananthapuram.

“All the financial assistance for organising this high-profile football event will be provided by the merchants of the state,” Abdurahiman said last year at an event in Kozhikode.

“For seven days from October 25 to November 2, Messi will be in Kerala. Apart from the friendly match, he will be on a public dias for twenty minutes to see you all,” he added.

Not one, but two international friendlies were scheduled to be hosted in God’s Own Country. However, it appears that all hopes have been dashed due to the inability to raise the money required to pay the team’s appearance fee, which is estimated to be over Rs 70 crore.

The Indian Express claims that insiders say the initial plans have probably been cancelled because the time to confirm the deal has passed. The state has not fulfilled any of its financial obligations.

The Argentina team will instead participate in competitions in China, Angola, and Qatar in October and November of this year, according to recent updates, particularly from Argentine sports journalist Gastón Edul. This raises questions about Kerala’s earlier statement.

Messi visited India for the first time in September 2011, when the defending world champions played Venezuela in a FIFA exhibition at Salt Lake’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

After Lionel Messi assisted Nicolas Otamendi for a headed goal, Argentina won the game 1-0.

Messi, 37, is regarded by many as one of the best football players of all time. He has won the Ballon d’Or, which is given to the best football player every year, eight times, which is a record.

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