Possibility of Lionel Messi playing in India for international game: Kerala sports minister optimistic about hosting Argentina in 2025

Messi, known for his immense global fan base, last graced Indian soil in 2011 during an international friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The match ended in a goalless draw, leaving football enthusiasts eagerly awaiting his return. Now, after a gap of 14 years, fans are thrilled at the prospect of witnessing Messi back in India.

Messi has an immense following in India, a country that is deemed a cricket-crazy nation. Kerala, on the other hand, is a state where football fans are in large numbers; hence, there will be a lot of buzz to see the Argentine captain in action.

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Talking about world champions Argentina, they beat Peru 1-0 in the South American FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday (Nov. 19). Courtesy of a magnificent volley from Lautaro Martinez, Argentina moved past Peru with a 1-0 scoreline, whereas Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Uruguay. With this result, the in-form Argentina remain at the top of the CONMEBOL standings (with 25 points in their kitty) with their qualification for the 2026 showpiece event surely just a matter of time. The Messi-starrer team has been in roaring form since their 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph.