It's confirmed: Messi is coming to Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The wait is over for football fans in Kerala, as the Argentina Football Association has officially confirmed that Lionel Messi and the FIFA World Cup-winning Argentina team will visit the state.

The team is set to play a friendly match in Kerala between November 10 and 18, facing an opponent ranked among the top 50 in FIFA rankings. The venue is expected to be either Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram, according to Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman.

In addition to Kerala, the Argentina team will also play friendly matches in the United States and Angola. Earlier reports had suggested that Messi and the team might skip Kerala due to sponsorship issues. After prolonged discussions and uncertainty, official confirmation has now been received.