Messi’s Argentina Cancels Kerala Visit Amid Confusion Over Friendly Match Plans

TDT | Chennai

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Football fans across India have been left disappointed after reports confirmed that the Argentina men’s football team, led by Lionel Messi, will not be visiting Kerala in November as earlier anticipated. Spanish-language media outlets revealed that the proposed trip to Kochi, which was to include a friendly match against Australia on November 17, has been cancelled.

The news comes as a major letdown for millions of Indian football enthusiasts who were eagerly waiting to witness the world champions in action. The event had been billed as a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle that could reignite football fever in India, particularly in Kerala — one of the country’s most passionate football hubs.

The proposed match had symbolized a spark of revival for Indian football, which continues to struggle under administrative instability and lacklustre international performances. Once described by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter as the “sleeping giant” of world football, India today finds itself battling to stay relevant in the Asian football scene. The men’s national team recently failed to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup and has slipped outside the top 120 in the FIFA rankings.

In Kerala and West Bengal, however, football remains a cultural heartbeat. During every FIFA World Cup, streets in Kochi, Malappuram, and Kozhikode turn into seas of blue and yellow, adorned with giant cutouts of Messi and other global icons like Ronaldo and Neymar. For these fans, Argentina’s planned visit felt like a dream come true — one that has now abruptly faded.

Conflicting statements from the event’s sponsor and Kerala’s state sports ministry had already raised doubts in recent weeks about whether the match would proceed. With Argentina’s reported withdrawal, hopes of seeing Messi play on Indian soil — at least for now — appear to have been dashed.

While the “sleeping giant” of Indian football may have stirred briefly with the announcement, it seems the awakening will have to wait a little longer.