Football fans in Kerala are facing disappointment as Argentina's national football team, led by the iconic Lionel Messi, will no longer be visiting the state
this year.
The news was confirmed on Monday by Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman, who had earlier stated that the government had made all necessary arrangements for the team's visit and that the sponsor had already paid the required match fee.
Addressing the media, Abdurahiman revealed that Argentina's management had recently communicated their inability to travel to Kerala in October. "The foreign team informed us that they were facing difficulties in visiting the state in October," he said. However, he added that the sponsor was firm on hosting the team only during that month, saying, "We are interested only in a visit in the month of October. "
Previously, the minister had hinted at a possible visit either in October or November, with the Kerala government planning to treat the team as state guests. Accommodation, security, and other logistics were expected to be fully taken care of by the state authorities.
While Kerala may miss out, Mumbai could witness something truly spectacular. According to sources, Lionel Messi is likely to take part in a unique event - a seven-a-side celebrity cricket match at the Wankhede Stadium on December 14. The match could see Messi sharing the pitch with cricketing legends such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Sachin Tendulkar.
If all goes according to plan, Messi might swap his football boots for cricket spikes in what promises to be an unforgettable sporting crossover. A well-known event agency has reportedly asked the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to block the venue for the date.
"Messi will be at Wankhede Stadium on December 14. He is likely to play a cricket match, too, with former and current cricketers. The organisers will come up with a complete schedule once everything is finalised," a MCA source told The Indian Express.
While Kerala may miss out this time, Indian fans across the country still have reason to be excited.
