Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman has confirmed that football superstar Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team will not be visiting Kerala this year. The announcement comes after earlier claims that the team would arrive in October, based on preliminary agreements.
According to the minister, the Kerala government had signed a contract with the Argentina team and made an advance payment after receiving confirmation that the team could visit in either October or November. “They initially mentioned two possible windows—October or November—and later confirmed their availability for October. Based on that, we made the payment. However, after receiving the money, they informed us that the team would not be able to come this year,” said Abdurahiman, addressing the media.
Minister clarified that Kerala was only interested in hosting the team in October 2025 and not at any other time. “If the state incurs any losses due to this cancellation, the full responsibility lies with the Argentina team. The Kerala government will not bear any financial burden. If you take money for a match and then fail to turn up, it is the team’s responsibility to compensate the state,” the minister added.
Minister emphasized that the payment was made only after getting approvals from the Union Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Finance, and the Reserve Bank of India, and there is no secrecy surrounding the deal.
Earlier, the minister had publicly announced that Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team would arrive in Kerala in October this year for an exhibition match.
Meanwhile, fresh reports suggest that Messi might visit India in December for football-related workshops and events in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Delhi. Minister is expected to visit iconic stadiums such as Wankhede Stadium, Eden Gardens, and the Arun Jaitley Stadium. There are also unconfirmed reports that he might attend a cricket match at the Wankhede Stadium during his visit.
The unexpected change in plans has sparked widespread discussions among football fans and sports enthusiasts across Kerala.
