‘Messi to visit Kerala in March, receives mail; announcement soon, says Minister Abdurahman

MALAPPURAM: Sports Minister V Abdurahman said the Argentina team led by Lionel Messi will visit Kerala in March next year for a friendly match. Received the mail from Argentina Football Team two days ago. The minister said they have assured to come in March and that the Argentine Football Association (AFA) will make an announcement in this regard soon. The minister said the inconveniences at the stadium are the reason for the postponement of the match in November.

Meantime, the minister has not clarified on the things in connection with FIFA's permission. It was earlier announced that he would come in October and later in November. Finally, the minister and sponsor Anto Agustine informed that he would not come to Kerala in the November window due to issues with the stadium in Kerala. Now the minister has clarified that he will come in the next window, March.

Argentina, which was announced to come to Kerala, will play a friendly football match in the African country of Angola on November 14. The match will be held at a stadium in Luanda. The match is being organized as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Angola's independence.

Messi is coming to India in December as part of the Goat Tour 2025. It is reported that Messi will be accompanied by his teammate Rodrigo de Paul and Uruguayan player Luis Suarez. He will be in India from December 12 to 15 to participate in various events in Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Messi is being brought to India by Satadru Dutta, a prominent sports entrepreneur and organizer of the Goat Tour 2025. He has previously brought Pele and Diego Maradona to India.
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